Fusion proteins forming trimers

ABSTRACT

The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a neck region and carbohydrate recognition domain of a collectin trimerization domain, a linker element and an effector polypeptide. Further the invention refers to a nucleic acid encoding the said fusion protein. The fusion proteins, the nucleic acid, and the cell are suitable as pharmaceutical composition or for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applications as described herein.

This application is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No.13/143,531, filed Sep. 6, 2011; which is a National Stage ofInternational Application PCT/EP2009/050233, filed Jan. 9, 2009,published Jul. 15, 2010, under PCT Article 21(2) in English. Thecontents of the above-identified applications are incorporated herein byreference in their entireties.

REFERENCE TO SEQUENCE LISTING, TABLE OR COMPUTER PROGRAM

The Sequence Listing is concurrently submitted herewith with thespecification as an ASCII formatted text file via EFS-Web with a filename of Sequence_Listing.txt with a creation date of Oct. 17, 2011, anda size of 160 kilobytes. The Sequence Listing filed via EFS-Web is partof the specification and is hereby incorporated in its entirety byreference herein.

DESCRIPTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention refers to fusion proteins comprising a neck regionand carbohydrate recognition domain of a collectin trimerization domain,a linker element and an effector polypeptide. Further the inventionrefers to a nucleic acid encoding the said fusion protein. The fusionproteins, the nucleic acid, and the cell are suitable as pharmaceuticalcomposition or for therapeutic, diagnostic and/or research applicationsas described herein.

2. Background

Collectin proteins are known to form stable oligomers. Collectins areone of 18 group members building the protein lectin superfamilycontaining a structural protein fold called C-type lectin domain(Zelensky et al., FEBS Journal 2005, Vol 272, p 6179-6217). Lectins areproteins that bind to carbohydrates and C-type lectins require calciumfor binding. As the C-type lectin domain is involved in carbohydratebinding, this domain is also called the carbohydrate recognition domain(CRD). Collectins belong to the innate immunity and among otherfunctions neutralize pathogens by binding to the carbohydrates e.g.present on viruses and bacteria. In addition, collectins regulate immunefunctions such as activation of complement and influencing inflammation.The basic structural features of collectins are a collageneous and alectin domain which are the name giving components of collectins. Somemembers have been shown to contain additional structural features, thusthey contain the following components: i) an N-terminal collagen domainconnected to ii) an alpha-helical segment that is also referred to asthe neck-region and iii) the CRD at the C-terminus (FIG. 35). Collectinstrimerize non-covalently via the “triplehelical collagen”, the “coiledcoil neck” and CRD regions. In humans, the collectin group containsserum mannose binding protein(s), collectins of the liver, kidneys,placenta and lung. Four lung collectins are known including pulmonarysurfactant protein-A and -D (SP-A and SP-D) which contain N-terminalcysteines that are involved in the disulfide-mediatet oligomerization ofpre-formed trimers. For instance, SP-D forms tetramers of trimers andSP-A forms hexamers of trimers (Kishore et al, Mol. Immunol. 2006, Vol.43, 1293-1315)

In the attempt to provide trimeric complexes of TNF superfamilycytokines recombinant fusion proteins comprising a TNF cytokine and amultimerization component have been suggested as one possible approach(e.g. WO 0149866). The disclosed constructs however exhibitedtrimerization domains with a large molecular weight and with inefficienttrimerization properties.

Schneider et al. (J Exp Med 187 (1989), 1205-1213) describes thattrimers of TNF cytokines are stabilized by N-terminally positionedstabilization motifs. In CD95L, the stabilization of the CD95L-receptorbinding domain trimer is presumably caused by N-terminal amino aciddomains which are located near the cytoplasmic membrane.

Shiraishi et al. (Biochem Biophys Res Commun 322 (2004), 197-202)describes that the receptor binding domain of CD95L may be stabilized byN-terminally positioned artificial α-helical coiled-coil (leucinezipper) motifs. It was found, however, that the orientation of thepolypeptide chains to each other, e.g. parallel or antiparallelorientation, can hardly be predicted. Further, the optimal number ofhepta-d-repeats in the coiled-coil zipper motif are difficult todetermine. In addition, coiled-coil structures have the tendency to formmacromolecular aggregates after alteration of pH and/or ionic strength.

Mc Alinden et al. (J of Biol Chem, 2002, 277(43):41274-41281) disclosesthe preparation of a fusion protein between a human type IIA procollagenamino acid sequence and a 14 amino acid sequence corresponding to thefirst two heptad repeats of the rat surfactant protein's (SP-D) neckdomain.

WO 01/42298 discloses the preparation of a fusion protein betweensurfactant protein-D comprising the signal sequence, the collagen domainand the neck domain and CD40L. The disadvantage of those fusion proteinsis that they lead to multimeric aggregates that are highly immunogenicand that they do not produce biochemically defined trimeric ligands.

To circumvent the named problems existing in the art could be achievedby using collectin trimerization domains as a tool for formingcontrolled trimers. In the art attempts for this have been performed.However only the coiled-coil neck region of collectin trimerizationdomains (CRD) have been used in such attempts. The coiled-coil likeneck-region of SP-D itself can be used as trimerisation domain, eitherN- or C-terminal fused to protein domains as described in WO95/31540.

However if using solely the coiled-coil neck region the optimal numberof hepta-d-repeats to achieve a stable trimer (the overall length) aredifficult to determine. The presented part of the SP-D neck region doesnot form sufficiently stable trimeres itself and needs to be optimizedwith respect to its length or repetition grade to generate stabilisedtrimeric fusion proteins. In addition, coiled-coil structures tend toform macromolecular aggregates after alteration of pH and/or ionicstrength. Accordingly a collectin neck-region α-helical bundle existsonly as a trimeric molecule in conditions which mimic or approximatephysiological conditions. This implicates, that purification strategiesemploying pH-shifts and/or the alteration of the ionic strength mighthave a negative effect on the trimeric state of the neck solely basedfusion proteins.

Also oligomerization of antibody fragments have been attempted by usingcollectin trimerization domains. E.g. fusion proteins comprising ananti-CD89-Fab or an anti-CD64-Fab fused to recombinant human fragmentSP-D (neck+CRD-domain) have been investigated and found to be effectivein targeting pathogens towards neutrophils. The fusion proteinspresented had been generated by chemical crosslinking resulting in amixture of protein products with the necessity of a complex purificationregime to achieve the wanted protein species.

For human SP-D a mutant has been described in which amino acidphenylalanine 335 (corresponding to amino acid 355 of SEQ ID NO:21) hasbeen mutated to alanine (SPD_F335A, Crouch et al., JBC 281:18008-18014). This mutant showed very weak carbohydrate binding.

To allow for an efficient manufacturing process for Fab-SP-D basedfusion proteins a process would be desirable that does not necessitatelaborious purification procedures but allows for controlled productionof defined products instead of crude mixtures.

The inventors found that the fusion proteins disclosed herein overcomethe problems present in the art and allow for controlled generation oftrimers of different effector polypeptides such as cytokines of the TNFsuperfamily or also of antibody fragments or single chain antibodies.

It was an object of the present invention to provide fusion proteinsforming trimers which allow efficient recombinant manufacture combinedwith good trimerization properties and improved pharmaceuticalproperties.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a fusion protein comprising

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising        -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and        -   b. a collectin family neck region;    -   (ii) a linker element; and    -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide        is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

The invention further relates to a nucleic acid molecule encoding afusion protein as described herein and to a cell or a non-human organismtransformed or transfected with a nucleic acid molecule as describedherein.

The invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule,or a cell as described herein for use as a medicament.

The invention further related to the fusion protein, nucleic acidmolecule, or cell as described herein for us in therapy and/orprophylaxis of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative,genetic, proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant andmalignant cancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

The invention also relates to a pharmaceutical or diagnostic compositioncomprising as an active agent a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule,or a cell as described herein. The fusion protein, nucleic acidmolecule, or cell as described herein may be used for the preparation ofa pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxis and/or treatment ofneoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative, genetic,proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant and malignantcancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1: SEC of affinity purified CD95L-ASPD

FIG. 2: Silver gel of SEC fractions A1-A11 from affinity purifiedCD95L-ASPD

FIG. 3: Caspase activity on Jurkat cells induced by SEC fractions A1-A15from affinity purified CD95L-ASPD

FIG. 4: Cytotoxicity of CD95L-ASPD on WM35, HT1080 and HeLa cells

FIG. 5: SEC of affinity purified LIGHT-ASPD

FIG. 6: Binding of HVEM-Fc to immobilized LIGHT-ASPD

FIG. 7: Western blot from HEK cells transiently transfected withTRAIL-constructs

FIG. 8: Caspase activity in Jurkat T-cells

FIG. 9: Size exclusion chromatography of TRAIL-ASPD

FIG. 10: Cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD against human cancer cells

FIG. 11: TRAIL-ASPD induced caspase activity in Jurkat

FIG. 12: Cytotoxicity assay with TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-DSPD on HT1080cells

FIG. 13: Western blot from transiently transfected HEK cells transientlytransfected with TRAIL-SPD-constructs or TRAIL-receptor selective SPDconstructs.

FIG. 14: TRAIL-Receptor selective ligands (TRAILR1mut and TRAILR2mut)immobilized on Streptactin plates, are differentially detected byTRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc or TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc

FIG. 15: Binding of TRAIL-Receptors to Receptor-selective “mutein”ligands

FIG. 16: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purified TRAILR1mut-ASPD

FIG. 17: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinitypurified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD

FIG. 18: Caspase activity of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinity purifiedTRAILR1 mut-ASPD on Jurkat cells

FIG. 19: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purifiedTRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 20: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinitypurified TRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 21: Jurkat Kill Assay Jurkat of SEC fractions A1-A14 from affinitypurified TRAILR2mut-ASPD

FIG. 22: Cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1 mut-ASPD andTRAILR2mut-ASPD on human cancer cells.

FIG. 23: Receptor selective TRAIL-SPD proteins are highly soluble

FIG. 24: SEC of affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335A

FIG. 25: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC fractions A1-A13

FIG. 26: Cytotoxic effect of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A on human cancer cells

FIG. 27: SEC of affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D

FIG. 28: Silver stained SDS-PAGE of SEC from affinity purifiedTRAIL-ASPD_F335D

FIG. 29: Cytotoxic effect TRAIL-SPD_F335D on human cancer cells

FIG. 30: Binding of TRAIL-ASPD fusion protein to carbohydrates

FIG. 31: Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-ASPD (A) or TRAIL-ASPD_F335 D (B)Fusion Proteins

FIG. 32: Caspase activity in primary human hepatocytes

FIG. 33: Western Blot of supernatants from HEK293 cells transientlytransfected with trimerized APRIL constructs

FIG. 34: TACI-Fc binds to APRIL-ASPD

FIG. 35: Schematic drawing of the domain organization of the collectinSP-D. The collagen and neck regions trimerize collectins and theN-terminus further oligomerizes trimers into tetramers or hexamers oftrimers. The CRD mediates binding to carbohydrates and is also involvedin trimerization.

FIG. 36: Schematic picture representing the general structure ofTNF-SFproteins. “▪ ▪ ▪” designates cell membrane; N-terminus locatedwithin the cell, 1. anti-parallel β-fold of receptor-binding domain(RBD), 2. interface of RBD and cell membrane, 3. protease cleavage site.

FIG. 37: Schematic picture representing the structure of the nativeTNF-SF trimer. Cylindric structures (1) represent RBDs, N-termini (2)forming the stalk and connecting the RBD with the cell membrane.

FIG. 38: Schematic picture representing the modification introduced tominimize the TNF-SF-RBD. The N-terminal stalk is deleted. 1.anti-parallel β-fold of receptor-binding domain (RBD), 2. interface ofRBD and cell membrane

FIG. 39: Silver gel of affinity purified Sp-sc006-ASPD-St.

FIG. 40: Size exclusion chromatography of affinity purifiedSp-sc006-ASPD-St.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The fusion protein as disclosed herein may be a monomeric protein or amultimeric protein. Preferably, the fusion protein is present as atrimeric complex consisting of three monomeric units which may beidentical or different. Preferably, a trimeric complex consists of threeidentical fusion proteins. In a further preferred embodiment, thecomplex is formed by covalent linkage between three of the fusionproteins described herein, e.g., a covalent linkage of disulfide bridgesbetween cysteines of the collectin trimerization domain as describedherein.

The trimeric complex as such shows biological activity. It was found,however, that oligomers of the trimeric complex, e.g. defined complexeswherein the basic trimeric structure is present 2, 3 or 4 times, alsohave biological activity. Thus, also preferred is an oligomer of thetrimeric complex.

The fusion protein comprises the following elements:

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising        -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and        -   b. a collectin family neck region;]    -   (ii) a linker element; and    -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide        is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

A collectin trimerization domain as used herein is generally derivedfrom the C-terminal part of Collectin polypeptides. The trimerizationdomain as used herein comprises a coiled-coil region (in certainembodiments referred to as neck region) and a Carbohydrate RecognitionDomain (referred to herein also as CRD).

The collectin trimerization domain may comprise any collectin familymember. Such members and their structures are summarized in, e.g.,Hakansson et al. (Protein Science, 2000, 9:1607-1617) and may comprisesurfactant protein-D (acc. No.: P35247; SEQ ID NO:21), surfactantprotein-A 1 (acc. No.: Q8IWL2; SEQ ID NO:59), surfactant protein-A 2(acc. No.: Q8IWL1; SEQ ID NO:60), mannan-binding-protein-C (accessionNo.: P11226; SEQ ID NO:61), collectin liver 1 (acc. No.: Q9Y6Z7; SEQ IDNO:62), collectin placenta 1 (acc. No.: Q5KU26; SEQ ID NO:63), orcollectin-11 (acc. No.: Q9BWP8; SEQ ID NO:22). As well the coiled-coilregion (neck region) as the CRD may be selected from the above mentionedcollectins. It must be understood that coiled-coil (neck region) and CRDmay but need not be from the same collectin.

The collectin trimerization domain as described herein may be from adifferent species than the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptorbinding domain thereof as described herein. Alternatively, the collectintrimerization domain as described herein may be from the same speciesthan the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domainthereof described herein. In a preferred embodiment, the collectindomain as described herein is from human and the cytokine of the TNFsuperfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof as described herein isfrom human.

The CRD may comprise a mutant, e.g., a mutant of surfactant protein-D orcollectin-11, which does not bind to mannose. Such mutants may beidentified by methods known to the skilled person, e.g., the methodsdisclosed in Crouch et al. (J Biol Chem, 2006, 281(26):18008-18014). Thecollectin trimerization domain (ii) may further comprise a mutant whichcomprise at least one amino acid substitution as is described herein andmay be generated as described herein. Such amino acid substitutions maymodify the binding of the collectin trimerization domain to its ligandmannose and lead to an alteration of the clearance rate of a fusionprotein as described herein when used in therapy and/or aspharmaceutical composition. The modification may result in a decreasedor no binding to mannose and a low clearance rate. Such modificationsmay be achieved by, e.g., amino acid substitution that affect amino acidposition F355 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21,particularly by the amino acid substitutions F355A, F355S, F355T, F355E,F355D, F355K, or F355R. Especially preferred is the substitution F355D.Alternatively, the modification may result in an increased binding tomannose and a high clearance rate. Such modifications may be achievedby, e.g., amino acid substitution that affect amino acid position F355of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21, particularly by the aminoacid substitutions F355L, F355Y, or F355W.

A neck region as used herein may comprise a coiled-coil structure. Theneck may be located adjacent to the CRD of collectins or may in certaincases be located remote from the CRD.

In a preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprisesthe neck and carbohydrate binding domain (CRD) domain of the surfactantprotein-D, particularly amino acids 217-375, 218-375, 219-375, 220-375,221-375, 222-375, 223-375, 224-375, 225-375 from human surfactantprotein-D of SEQ ID NO:21. In another preferred embodiment, thecollectin trimerization domain comprises the neck domain of thesurfactant protein-D, particularly amino acids 217-257, 218-257,219-257, 220-257, 221-257, 222-257, 223-257, 224-257, or 225-257 fromhuman surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21. In another preferredembodiment, the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neck andcarbohydrate binding domain (CRD) domain of collectin-11, particularlyamino acids 110-271, 116-271, or 121-271 of human collectin-11 of SEQ IDNO:22. In another preferred embodiment, the collectin trimerizationdomain comprises the neck domain of collectin-11, particularly aminoacids 110-147, 110-148, 110-149, 110-150, 110-151, 116-147, 116-148,116-149, 116-150, 116-151, 121-147, 121-148, 121-149, 121-150, or121-151 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22.

A flexible linker element is located between the collectin trimerizationdomain as described herein and the effector polypeptide. The flexiblelinker element preferably has a length of 25 amino acids or less. Incertain embodiments the linker element has a length of 3-30 amino acids,particularly a length of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15,16, 17, 18, 19 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28 or 30 amino acids. Inone embodiment the length of the linker element is 5-25 amino acids,8-20 amino acids or 10-20 amino acids. More preferably, the length ofthe linker is 9-15 amino acids. Generally the linker element used hereinmay be composed of any known amino acids or of artificial amino acidderivatives. In certain embodiments the linker elements are built ofsmall and hydrophilic non-charged amino acids. Generally the linkerelement according to the invention may comprise amino acids selectedfrom G, S, A and T. The linker element is preferably a glycine/serinelinker, i.e., a peptide linker substantially consisting of the aminoacids glycine and serine. In an especially preferred embodiment, thelinker has the amino acid sequence (GSS)_(a)(SSG)_(b)(GSG)_(c), SEQ IDNO:33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. It is clear to theskilled person that in cases in which the cytokine of the TNFsuperfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof already terminates witha G, e.g. human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) such a G may form the first G ofthe linker in the linker sequence (GSS)_(a)(SSG)_(b)(GSG)_(c), SEQ IDNO:33. It must be understood that in principle the building blocks forthe linker elements may be composed of 1, 2, 3, 4 or more amino acids sothat the linkers useful herein are not restricted to linkers made ofbuilding blocks of 3 elements. Generally a linker element as used hereinmay be composed of building blocks or also from a sequence of aminoacids.

The effector polypeptide as used herein is an extracellular polypeptideor a fragment of a protein comprising extracellular portions of suchprotein. Generally proteins or fragments thereof may be used as effectorpolypeptides. Effector polypeptides may be polypeptides of any originand may be selected from e.g. mammalian polypeptides, vertebratepolypeptides, insect polypeptides, bacterial polypeptides, plantpolypeptides, yeast polypeptides. Mammalian polypeptides may comprisemouse, rat, human, horse, goat, dog, rabbit, cat, sheep, hamster,donkey, monkey and other polypeptides. In certain embodiments thepolypeptides are human polypeptides or humanized polypeptides. Suchextracellular proteins or extracellular portions of proteins may forexample be selected from cell surface proteins, secreted extracellularproteins, extracellular regions of transmembrane proteins etc. Incertain embodiments of the invention the effector polypeptide isselected from a group consisting of a cytokine of the TNF superfamily, areceptor binding domain thereof, a receptor for a cytokine and/or anantibody or fragments thereof.

In one embodiment the effector polypeptide is a cytokine of the TNFsuperfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof. Preferably, thecytokine is a mammalian, particularly human cytokine or a receptorbinding domain thereof including allelic variants and/or derivativesthereof. Further, it is preferred that the TNF cytokine is a receptorbinding domain thereof capable of binding to the corresponding cytokinereceptor and preferably capable of receptor activation, wherebyapoptotic or proliferative activity may be caused. The cytokine may e.g.be selected from TNF superfamily members, e.g. human TNFSF-1 to -18 asindicated in Table 1, preferably from LTA (SEQ ID NO:1), TNFα (SEQ IDNO:2), LTB (SEQ ID NO:3), OX40L (SEQ ID NO:4), CD40L (SEQ ID NO:5),CD95L (SEQ ID NO:6), CD27L (SEQ ID NO:7), CD30L (SEQ ID NO:8), CD137L(SEQ ID NO:9), TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10), RANKL (SEQ ID NO:11), TWEAK (SEQ IDNO:12), APRIL 1 (SEQ ID NO:13), APRIL 2 (SEQ ID NO:14), BAFF (SEQ IDNO:15), LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), TL1A (SEQ ID NO:17), GITRL (SEQ ID NO:18),EDA-A1 (SEQ ID NO:19), EDA-A2 (SEQ ID NO:20), or a receptor bindingdomain thereof. Preferred receptor binding domains of the respectiveproteins are indicated in Table 1 (NH₂-aa to COOH-aa) and comprise,e.g., comprises amino acids 59-205 or 60-205 of LTA (SEQ ID NO:1),86-233 of TNFα (SEQ ID NO:2), 82-244 or 86-244 of LTB (SEQ ID NO:3),52-183 or 55-183 of OX40L (SEQ ID NO:4), 112-261 or 117-261 of CD40L(SEQ ID NO:5), 51-193 or 56-193 of CD27L (SEQ ID NO:7), 97-234, 98-234or 102-234 of CD30L (SEQ ID NO:8), 86-254 of CD137L (SEQ ID NO:9),161-317 of RANKL (SEQ ID NO:11), 103-249, 104-249 or 105-249 of TWEAK(SEQ ID NO:12), 112-247 or 113-247 of APRIL 1 (SEQ ID NO:13), 112-250 or113-250 of APRIL 2 (SEQ ID NO:14), 140-285 of BAFF (SEQ ID NO:15),91-240 of LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), 91-251 or 93-251 of TL1A (SEQ ID NO:17),52-177 of GITRL (SEQ ID NO:18), 245-391 of EDA-A1 (SEQ ID NO:19),245-389 of EDA-A2 (SEQ ID NO:20).

In one embodiment the effector polypeptide may be IL4R-alpha (acc. No.:P24394, SEQ ID NO:37)

More preferably, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptorbinding domain thereof is selected from CD95L or TRAIL or a receptorbinding domain thereof. In an especially preferred embodiment, thecytokine of the TNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereofcomprises the extracellular portion of a TNF cytokine including thereceptor binding domain without membrane located domains.

In a preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the TNF superfamily or areceptor binding domain thereof of the fusion protein is selected fromhuman CD95L (SEQ ID NO:6), particularly amino acids 142-281 or 144-281of human CD95L.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cytokine of the TNF superfamilyor a receptor binding domain thereof of the fusion protein is humanTRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10), particularly amino acids 95-281, 116-281, 117-281,118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL. In another preferredembodiment human TRAIL comprise any amino acid from 95-120 as initialamino acid-amino acid 281 of SEQ ID NO:10.

In a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the cytokine of theTNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof of the fusionprotein as described herein comprises a mutant of the cytokine of theTNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof which binds and/oractivates TRAIL-receptor 1 (TRAILR1) and/or TRAIL-receptor 2 (TRAILR2).The binding and/or activity of the mutant may be, e.g., determined bythe assays as disclosed herein, e.g., in the Examples or by the assaysdisclosed in van der Sloot et al. (PNAS, 2006, 103:8634-8639), Kelley etal. (J. Biol. Chem., 2005, 280:2205-2215), or MacFarlane et al. (CancerRes., 2005, 65: 11265-11270).

The mutant may be generated by any technique and is known by the skilledperson, e.g., the techniques disclosed in an der Sloot et al. (PNAS,2006, 103:8634-8639), Kelley et al. (J. Biol. Chem., 2005,280:2205-2215), or MacFarlane et al. (Cancer Res., 2005, 65:11265-11270) any may comprise any type of structural mutations, e.g.,substitution, deletion, duplication and/or insertion of an amino acid. Apreferred embodiment is the generation of substitutions. Thesubstitution may affect at least one amino acid of the cytokine of theTNF superfamily or a receptor binding domain thereof as describedherein. In a preferred embodiment, the substitution may affect at leastone of the amino acids of TRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL (e.g., SEQ ID NO:10).Preferred substitutions in this regard affect at least one of thefollowing amino acids of human TRAIL of SEQ ID NO:10: R130, G160, Y189,R191, Q193, E195, N199, K201, Y213, T214, S215, H264, 1266, D267, D269.Preferred amino acid substitutions of human TRAIL of SEQ ID NO:10 are atleast one of the following substitutions: R130E, 0160M, Y189A, Y189Q,R191K, Q193S, Q193R, E195R, N199V, N199R, K201R, Y213W, T214R, S215D,H264R, 1266L, D267Q, D269H, D269R, or D269K.

The amino acid substitution(s) may affect the binding and/or activity ofTRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL, to or on either the TRAILR1 or the TRAILR2.Alternatively, the amino acid substitution(s) may affect the bindingand/or activity of TRAIL, e.g., human TRAIL, to or on both, the TRAILR1and the TRAILR2. The binding and/or activity of the TRAILR1 and/orTRAILR2 may be affected positively, i.e., stronger, more selective orspecific binding and/or more activation of the receptor. Alternatively,the binding and/or activity of the TRAILR1 and/or TRAILR2 may beaffected negatively, i.e., weaker, less selective or specific bindingand/or less or no activation of the receptor.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affectbinding and/or activity of both TRAILR1 and TRAILR2 may be found, e.g.,in Table 1 of MacFarlane et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAILmutants with the following two amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO:10Y213W and S215D or the following single amino acid substitution Y189A.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affectbinding and/or activity of TRAILR1 may be found, e.g., in Table 1 ofMacFarlane et al. (cf. above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants withthe following four amino acid substitutions of SEQ ID NO:10 N199V,K201R, Y213W and S215D or the following five amino acid substitutionsQ193S, N199V, K201R, Y213W and S215D or in Table 2 of Kelley et al. (cf.above) and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following six aminoacid substitutions Y213W, S215D, Y189A, Q193S, N199V, and K201R orY213W, S215D, Y189A, Q193S, N199R, and K201R.

Examples of mutants of TRAIL with amino acid substitution(s) that affectbinding and/or activity of TRAILR2 may be found, e.g., in Table 1 ofMacFarlane et al. (cf. above) or in Table 2 of Kelley et al. (cf. above)and may comprise human TRAIL mutants with the following six amino acidsubstitutions of SEQ ID NO:10: Y189Q, R191K, Q193R, H264R, 1266L, andD267Q, or in Table 2 of van der Sloot et al. (cf. above), and maycomprise human TRAIL mutants with the following single amino acidsubstitution D269H, the following two amino acid substitutions D269H andE195R or D269H and T214R.

In a further preferred embodiment, the cytokine portion of the fusionprotein is derived from human LIGHT (SEQ ID NO:16), particularly aminoacids 91-240 of SEQ ID NO:16. LIGHT is a member of TNF superfamily, andits receptors have been identified as lymphotoxin-beta receptor(LTbetaR) and the herpesvirus entry mediator (HVEM)/ATAR/TR2, both ofwhich lack the cytoplasmic sequence termed the ‘death domain’. SinceLIGHT engages LTbetaR and HVEM as the cellular receptors, it is expectedto have biological functions similar to those of LTalpha and LTbeta. Asprevious studies have shown, LIGHT induces cell death in HT-29 cells asdoes LTalpha (Harrop, J. A et al. (1998) J. Biol. Chem. 273,27548-27556; Zhai, Y., et al. (1998) J. Clin. Invest. 102, 1142-1151 andRooney, I. A. et al. (2000) J. Biol. Chem. 275, 14307-14315), it causesgrowth arrest in RD cells following the developmental changes to smoothmuscles cells, and it stimulates secretion of IL-8 and RANTES from thecells (Hikichi, Y., et al. (2001) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 289,670-677). It has also been reported that LIGHT is one of theCD28-independent co-stimulatory molecules in T cells (Tamada, K., et al.(2000) J. Immunol. 164, 4105-4110).

In one embodiment the cytokine of the TNF superfamily is RANK-L. HumanRANK Ligand (RANK-L) is a member of the tumor necrosis factorsuperfamily of proteins known to be key regulators of the immune system,bone development and homeostasis (Anderson, et al., Nature 390: 175-179,1997). This ligand is also designated Tumor Necrosis Factor RelatedActivation-Induced Cytokine (TRANCE) (Wong, et al., J. Exp. Med. 186:2075, 1997), Osteoprotegerin Ligand (OPGL) (Lacey, et al., Cell 93: 165,1998), and Osteoclast Differentiation Factor (ODF) (Yasuda, et al.,Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci. 95: 3597, 1998). Members of the tumor necrosisfamily mediate diverse and sometimes opposite biological responses suchas proliferation, apoptosis, cell survival, and differentiation.

In a further embodiment the cytokine of the TNF superfamily is TWEAK.TWEAK (TNFLSF member 12) was recently found to be a direct and stronginducer of angiogenesis (formation and growth of blood vessels) as itwas observed that picomolar concentrations of TWEAK promoteproliferation of normal endothelial cells and that TWEAK inducesangiogenesis in an in vivo rat cornea model (Lynch et al., 1999, TheJournal of Biological Chemistry, 274(13) pp. 8455-8459).

In a still further preferred embodiment, the cytokine portion of thefusion protein is derived from human APRIL (SEQ ID NO:13 or 14),particularly amino acids 112-247 or 113-247 of SEQ ID NO:13, or 112-250or 113-250 of SEQ ID NO:14. APRIL (TNFLS member 13) is a trimericcytokine that binds to the receptor TNFRSF13B and to TNFRSF17. It hasrecently been shown that the addition of recombinant APRIL to varioustumor cells stimulates their proliferation and hence APRIL may beimplicated in the regulation of tumor cell growth (Hahne M., et al,1998; J. Exp. Med. 188:1185-1190). It has also been suggested that APRILmay be involved in monocyte/macrophage-mediated immunological processes.

The TNF superfamily cytokines used as effector polypeptides herein mayin certain embodiments be truncated at the N-terminal side. Truncationas used in this respect shall refer to omission of all amino acids ofthe stalk region, or to omission of part of the amino acids of the stalkregion.

Proteins of the TNF superfamily are anchored to the membrane via anN-terminal proportion of 15-30 amino acids, the so-called stalk-region.The stalk-region contributes to trimerization and provides for a certaindistance to the cell membrane. However, the stalk-region does not formpart of the receptor binding domain (RBD).

Importantly, the RBD is characterized by a particular localization ofits N- and C-terminal amino acids. Said amino acids are immediatelyadjacent and are located central to the axes of the trimers. The firstN-terminal amino acids of the RBD form an anti-parallel beta-strand withthe C-terminal amino acids of the RBD (FIGS. 36 and 38).

Thus, the anti-parallel beta-strand of the RBD forms an interface withthe cell membrane, which is connected to and anchored within the cellmembrane via the amino acids of the stalk-region. In certain embodimentsof the invention the stalk region of the TNF superfamily cytokine usedas an effector polypeptide is omitted. This has the particular advantagethat steric hindrance between the stalk region and the linker-collectincan be avoided. Otherwise, the linker connecting the C-terminus of oneof the TNF-SF-RBD domain with the N-terminus of the collectin domainwould be sterically hindered by the stalk, which might result ininstability and/or formation of aggregates.

In certain embodiments truncating the TNF superfamily cytokine byomitting the stalk region of the N-terminus is a prerequisite forC-terminal positioning of the collectin trimerization domain. In certainembodiments it is highly preferred that the collectin based trimericfusion protein comprises a receptor binding domain of the TNF-SFcytokine lacking any amino acids from the stalk-region.

The ability of the collectin based trimeric TNF-SF fusion polypeptide,wherein the effector TNF superfamily cytokine is positioned N-terminallyof the collectin trimerization domain, of forming an ordered trimericstructure comprising at least one functional binding site for therespective cytokine receptor, is in certain embodiments of the inventioncrucially associated with total or partial omission of the stalk regionof the TNF superfamily cytokine.

In the fusion protein of the invention as described herein, thecollectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally of the effectorpolypeptide. Thus, the fusion protein may comprise a effectorpolypeptide as described herein and a collectin trimerization domainthat comprises a collectin family neck domain and a collectin family CRDdomain, e.g., the neck domain and the CRD and/or neck domain ofsurfactant protein-D or the neck domain and the CRD and/or neck domainof collectin-11 both as described herein wherein those domains arelocated C-terminally of the effector polypeptide. In this embodiment, itis preferred that the collectin trimerization domain comprises the neckdomain and the CRD.

The fusion proteins disclosed herein comprise the effector polypeptideN-terminally to the collectin trimerization domain. The inventors foundthat controlled formation of trimers may only be effective if thisorientation is obeyed. Only constructs having the effector polypeptideN-terminally of the collectin trimerization domain do lead to controlledstable trimers and are minimally prone to form larger aggregates duringhandling and purification. From the published crystal structure (Shrive,A. K., et al., 2003, J. Mol. Biol. 331: 509-523) of the neck-CRD part ofrecombinant human SP-D, the relative position of the N- and C-terminalamino acid of each monomer can be derived. Whereas the amino-terminalamino-acids (A205[A225]*) of the trimers are solvent exposed and locatedin direct proximity at the beginning of the parallel coiled-coilstructure, the side-chain of the C-terminal (F355[F375]*) amino-acids ofthe trimers are buried within the CRD-domain and positioned in atriangular distant symmetry to each other. The COOH groups ofF355[F375]* are forming an isosceles triangle with approx. 23 angstromside length. Importantly, the protein-core of the neck-CRD trimers iswithin this triangle, thus only the space radially to the neck-CRD coreis accessible for fusion partners.

It can be concluded, that by their relative position to each other, theN- and the C-terminal amino acids in the neck-CRD part of the SP-Dtrimere are not equivalent with respect to their use as joining pointfor the construction of fusion proteins.

As a disadvantage in the case of the TNF-SF proteins, a C-terminalfusion (this means, fusing the TNF-SF-fragment towards the C-terminalamino-acid of the neck-CRD; F355[F375]*) comprising the extracellularregion with the stalk region would result in an large molecularaggregate due to the trimerisation force of the TNF-SF fragment itself.*The numbers given in [ ] refer to Seq ID 21.

Therefore, fusing an TNF-SF-RBD domain with its endogenous stalkC-terminal to the neck-CRD construct would not result in an definedtrimeric assembly. Accordingly in certain embodiments of the inventiontruncated polypeptides of the TNF-SF-RBD (TNF superfamily receptorbinding domain) lacking the stalk region are used as effectorpolypeptides.

In a preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or amutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281,117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and acollectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein,particularly the CRD and neck domain of surfactant protein-D, preferablyamino acids 217-375, 218-375, 219-375, 220-375, 221-375, 222-375,223-375, 224-375, 225-375 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally ofTRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. Preferred fusion proteins inthis regard are SEQ ID Nos:26 or 27. Alternatively, the above fusionprotein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., alinker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33,wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Preferably, the linkerhas a length of 9-15 amino acids.

In a preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or amutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281,117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and acollectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein,particularly the neck domain of surfactant protein-D, preferably aminoacids 217-257, 218-257, 219-257, 220-257, 221-257, 222-257, 223-257,224-257, or 225-257 of human surfactant protein-D of SEQ ID NO:21wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally ofTRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. A preferred fusion protein inthis regard is SEQ ID NO:28. Alternatively, the above fusion protein mayadditionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., a linker withthe amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b,c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or amutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281,117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and acollectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein,particularly the CRD and neck domain of collectin-11, preferably aminoacids 110-271, 116-271, or 121-271 of human collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22wherein the collectin trimerization domain is located C-terminally ofTRAIL or mutant TRAIL as described herein. Preferred fusion proteins inthis regard are SEQ ID Nos:29 and 30. Alternatively, the above fusionprotein may additionally comprise a linker as described herein, e.g., alinker with the amino acid sequence (GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33,wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6. Preferably, the linkerhas a length of 9-15 amino acids.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or amutant of TRAIL as described herein, preferably 95-281, 116-281,117-281, 118-281, 119-281 or 120-281 of human TRAIL (SEQ ID NO:10) and acollectin trimerization domain or mutant thereof as described herein,particularly the neck domain of collectin-11, preferably amino acids110-147, 110-148, 110-149, 110-150, 110-151, 116-147, 116-148, 116-149,116-150, 116-151, 121-147, 121-148, 121-149, 121-150, or 121-151 ofhuman collectin-11 of SEQ ID NO:22 wherein the collectin trimerizationdomain is located C-terminally of TRAIL or mutant TRAIL as describedherein. A preferred fusion protein in this regard is SEQ ID NO:31.Alternatively, the above fusion protein may additionally comprise alinker as described herein, e.g., a linker with the amino acid sequence(GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c is each 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5 or 6.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises CD95L,particularly human CD95L, or a receptor binding domain thereof asdescribed herein, e.g. amino acids 21-160 of SEQ ID NO:40, and acollectin trimerization domain comprising the neck domain and the CRD ofhuman SP-D, e.g. amino acids 172-209 and 210-327 of SEQ ID NO:40,respectively, or a mutant thereof as described herein. The fusionprotein may comprise a linker, e.g. a flexible linker, more preferably aglycine/serine linker as described herein having a length of preferably9-15 amino acids. A preferred fusion protein in this regard comprisesSEQ ID NO:40, particularly amino acids 21-327 of SEQ ID NO:40.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises LIGHT,particularly human LIGHT or a receptor binding domain thereof asdescribed herein, preferably amino acids 21-170 of SEQ ID NO:41, and acollectin trimerization domain comprising the neck domain and the CRD ofhuman SP-D, e.g. amino acids 182-219, and 220-337 of SEQ ID NO:41,respectively, or a mutant thereof as described herein. The cytokine andthe collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g. a glycine/serinelinker as described herein, having a length of preferably 9-15 aminoacids. A preferred fusion protein in this regard comprises SEQ ID NO:41,particularly amino acids 21-327 of SEQ ID NO:41.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or a receptor binding domain thereof or mutantof TRAIL as described herein, e.g. amino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:43(wild type TRAIL), amino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:47 (TRAILR1mut) oramino acids 21-181 of SEQ ID NO:48 (TRAILR2mut). Further, the fusionprotein comprises a collectin trimerization domain selected from theneck domain and optionally the CRD of human SP-D, e.g. amino acids193-230, and 231-384 of SEQ ID NO:43, respectively, or a mutant thereofas described herein, e.g. mutants as shown in SEQ ID NO:49 or 50. Thefusion polypeptide comprises both the neck region and the CRD of humanSP-D. The cytokine and collectin domain are connected by a linker, e.g.a glycine/serine linker as described herein. Preferably, the linker hasa length of 9-15 amino acids. Preferred fusion proteins in this regardcomprise (i) SEQ ID NO:43, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ IDNO:43, (ii) SEQ ID NO:44, particularly amino acids 21-230 of SEQ IDNO:44, (iii) SEQ ID NO:47, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ IDNO:47, (iv) SEQ ID NO:48, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ IDNO:48, (v) SEQ ID NO: 49, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ IDNO:49 or (vi) SEQ ID NO:50, particularly amino acids 21-348 of SEQ IDNO:50.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises TRAIL,particularly human TRAIL or receptor-binding domain thereof or a mutantof TRAIL as described herein above, and a collectin trimerizationdomain, which is the neck domain of human collectin 11, and the CRD ofhuman collectin 11, e.g. amino acids 193-224 and 225-347 of SEQ IDNO:45, respectively. The cytokine and the collectin domain are connectedby a linker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described above herein,preferably having a length of 9-15 amino acids. Preferred fusionproteins in this regard comprise SEQ ID NO:45 and SEQ ID NO:46,particularly, amino acids 21-347 of SEQ ID NO:45 or amino acids 21-229of SEQ ID NO:46.

In another preferred embodiment, the fusion protein comprises APRIL,particularly human APRIL or a receptor binding domain thereof asdescribed herein, e.g. amino acids 21-158 of SEQ ID NO:51 and acollectin trimerization domain as described herein, particularly theneck domain and the CRD of human SP-D or a mutant thereof, as describedherein, e.g. amino acids 170-207 and 208-325 of SEQ ID NO:51,respectively. The cytokine and the collectin domain are connected by alinker, e.g. a glycine/serine linker as described herein, preferablyhaving a length of 9-15 amino acids. The preferred fusion protein inthis regard comprises SEQ ID NO:51, particularly amino acids 21-325 ofSEQ ID NO:51.

In certain embodiments the effector polypeptide is an antibody. Anantibody as used herein may comprise conventional wild type antibodies,as well as modified and altered antibodies. Such modifications maycomprise generation of single chain antibodies, antibody fragments,humanized antibodies etc. Generally antibodies or antigen binding aminoacid sequences (complementary determining regions, CDRs) may beantibodies or CDRs from any species as well as antibodies or CDRsrecombinantly produced.

The antibody may be a complete antibody from human class A, E, D, M or Gand preferably from IgG, or an antigen binding fragment thereof.Preferably, the antibody or an antigen binding fragment thereof is achimeric or humanized antibody which has human constant regions,preferably IgG1, IgG2, IgG3 or IgG4 subclass or combinations thereof orengineered variants that have altered effector functions. Effectorfunctions may by antibody dependent cellular toxicity (ADCC) andcomplement dependent cytotoxicity (CDC). Engineered Fc parts may alsohave altered pharmacokinetic properties. Further, a fully human antibodyor antigen binding fragment thereof is preferred. More preferably theantibody is a humanized or human antibody or a fragment thereof whichadditionally comprises human or substantially human framework regions.Also preferred are antibody fragments, e.g. divalent or monovalentantibody fragments such as F(ab)2 or Fab fragments. On the other hand,the antibody may be a recombinant antibody, e.g. a single chain antibodyor a fragment thereof, e.g. an scFv fragment where the Fv fragments areconnected by any amino acid sequence, preferably by small polar aminoacids and more preferably composed of glycine and/or serine and/orthreonine. Further, the recombinant antibody may be a multimeric scFvassembly, e.g. two or more scFv-fragments linked together on a singlepolypeptide.

In certain embodiments the antibodies, single chain antibody or afragment of an antibody or a single chain antibody are directed againsta cytokine of the TNF superfamily, a receptor binding domain thereof ora receptor for a cytokine. In a special embodiment the antibodies aredirected against is IL4R-alpha.

In certain embodiments the antibody is an antibody or an antibodyfragment, e.g. chimeric or humanized antibody derived from the murineantibody X2/45 (Tony et al., 1994) produced by the hybridoma cell lineDSM ACC2882. The hybridoma cell line DSM ACC2882 was deposited under theBudapest Treaty for the Deposit of Microorganisms on Jan. 29, 2008 atDeutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen and Zellkulturen GmbH (DSZM),Mascheroder Weg 1 b, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany. Inn certain specialembodiments the antibody or antibody fragment recognizes humanIL4Ra-Receptor extracellular domain. In a further embodiment, thecomplementary determining regions of heavy and light chain of murineX2/45 have been used to generate an human or humanized antibody or arecombinant humanized antibody fragment recognizing human IL4Ra. In anpreferred embodiment, an humanized scFv antibody fragment as depicted inSEQ ID: 52, position 21-264, is used as an effector polypeptide.

The fusion protein as described herein may additionally comprise anN-terminal signal peptide domain, which allows processing, e.g.,extracellular secretion, in a suitable host cell. Preferably, theN-terminal signal peptide domain comprises a protease, e.g., a signalpeptidase cleavage site and thus may be removed after or duringexpression to obtain the mature protein. In a preferred embodiment, theN-terminal signal peptide domain comprises the sequence SEQ ID NO:23,SEQ ID NO:24, or SEQ ID NO:25.

Further, the fusion protein may comprise comprises arecognition/purification domain, e.g., a Strep-tag domain and/or apoly-His domain, which may be located at the N-terminus or at theC-terminus.

The fusion protein may additionally comprise a C-terminal flexibleelement, having a length of, e.g., 1-50, preferably 10-30 amino acidswhich may include and/or connect to a recognition/purification domain asdescribed herein.

In certain embodiments the fusion protein may additionally comprise anantibody, a single chain antibody or a fragment of an antibody or singlechain antibody fused to the C-terminal end of the CRD. Such antibody mayin certain embodiment serve e.g. for targeting the fusion protein tocertain molecules or sites. Also may such constructs offer anopportunity to create fusion polypeptides with at least two differentantigen specificities.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a nucleic acidmolecule encoding a fusion protein as described herein. The nucleic acidmolecule may be a DNA molecule, e.g., a double-stranded orsingle-stranded DNA molecule, or an RNA molecule. The nucleic acidmolecule may encode the fusion protein or a precursor thereof, e.g., apro- or pre-proform of the fusion protein which may comprise a signalsequence as described herein or other heterologous amino acid portionsfor secretion or purification which are preferably located at the N-and/or C-terminus of the fusion protein as described herein. The nucleicacid molecule may encode the fusion protein wherein the heterologousamino acid portions may be linked to the first and/or second domain viaa protease cleavage site, e.g., a Factor X_(a), thrombin or IgA proteasecleavage site.

The nucleic acid molecule may be operatively linked to an expressioncontrol sequence, e.g. an expression control sequence which allowsexpression of the nucleic acid molecule in a desired host cell. Thenucleic acid molecule may be located on a vector, e.g. a plasmid, abacteriophage, a viral vector, a chromosal integration vector, etc.Examples of suitable expression control sequences and vectors aredescribed for example by Sambrook et al. (1989) Molecular Cloning, ALaboratory Manual, Cold Spring Harbor Press, and Ausubel et al. (1989),Current Protocols in Molecular Biology, John Wiley & Sons or more recenteditions thereof.

Various expression vector/host cell systems may be used to express thenucleic acid sequences encoding the fusion proteins of the presentinvention. Suitable host cells include, but are not limited to,prokaryotic cells such as bacteria, e.g. E. coli, eukaryotic host cellssuch as yeast cells, insect cells, plant cells or animal cells,preferably mammalian cells and, more preferably, human cells. Thenucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein as described hereinmay be optimized in view of its codon-usage for the expression insuitable host cells, e.g. E. coli, yeast cells, plant cells, insectcells, animal cells, e.g., mammalian cells or human cells.

Further, the invention relates to a non-human organism, e.g., mouse orrat, transformed or transfected with a nucleic acid molecule asdescribed herein. Such organisms may be comprise knock-out organisms,generated by known methods of genetic transfer including homologousrecombination. Alternatively, such organisms may comprise transgenicorganisms which comprise several copies of the nucleic acid molecule asdescribed herein. The generation of transgenic organisms is known in theart.

The fusion protein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, the transformedor transfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes or oligomers ofthe trimeric complexes, all as described herein may be used forpharmaceutical, diagnostic and/or research applications. For theseapplications it is preferred to use fusion proteins in which both theeffector polypeptide as described herein and the collectin trimerizationdomain as described herein are from the same species in order tominimize immunological effects, e.g., from human when applying suchproteins to humans. In addition, the fusion of an effector polypeptideas described herein to a neck-collectin trimerization domain asdescribed herein, e.g., neck domain from surfactant protein-D orcollectin-11, may lead to fast clearance. Alternatively, the fusion of aTNF-superfamily cytokine or receptor binding domain thereof as describedherein to a neck and CRD-collectin trimerization domain as describedherein, e.g., neck and CRD domain from surfactant protein-D orcollectin-11, may lead to low clearance. The use of mutants of thecollectin trimerization domain as described herein may modify theclearance rate of the fusion protein in a way as described herein.

A further aspect of the present invention relates to a pharmaceutical ordiagnostic composition comprising as an active agent at least one fusionprotein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, the transformed ortransfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes or oligomers of thetrimeric complexes, all as described herein.

At least one fusion protein, the nucleic acid coding therefore, thetransformed or transfected cell as well as the trimeric complexes oroligomers of the trimeric complexes, all as described herein may be usedin therapy, e.g., in the prophylaxis and/or treatment of disordersselected from proliferative disorders, particularly disorders caused by,associated with and/or accompanied by dysfunction of TNF cytokines, suchas tumors, e.g. solid or lymphatic tumors, infectious diseases,inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, e.g.rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases, degenerative diseases, e.g.neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis,apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

The fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as describedherein may be used in therapy of diseases, e.g. as a medicament or forthe preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in the prophylaxisand/or treatment of neoplastic, inflammatory, infectious, degenerative,genetic, proliferative and vascular diseases, and of premalignant andmalignant cancerous conditions, cancer and inborn errors.

In certain embodiments of the invention degenerative diseases maycomprise degenerative diseases of different tissues or organs such asneurodegenerative diseases, degenerative diseases of bones and theskeleton, degenerative diseases of the skin, of mucosal epithelia andmay comprise e.g. osteoporesis, osteopenia, Alzheimer disease and thelike.

In one embodiment, the proliferative diseases are tumors. Tumors maycomprise tumors of the head and the neck, tumors of the respiratorytract, tumors of the anogenital tract, tumors of the gastrointestinaltract, tumors of the urinary system, tumors of the reproductive system,tumors of the endocrine system, tumors of the central and peripheralnervous system, tumors of the skin and its appendages, tumors of thesoft tissues and bones, tumors of the lymphopoietic and hematopoieticsystem, etc. Tumors may comprise for example neoplasms such as benignand malignant tumors, carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemias, lymphomas ordysplasias. In a particular embodiment, the tumor is for example cancerof the head and the neck, cancer of the respiratory tract, cancer of theanogenital tract, cancer of the gastrointestinal tract, cancer of theskin and its appendages, cancer of the central and peripheral nervoussystem, cancer of the urinary system, cancer of the reproductive system,cancer of the endocrine system, cancer of the soft tissues and bone,cancer of the hematopoietic and lymphopoietic system.

In certain embodiments where the effector polypeptide is selected from agroup consisting of a TNSF polypeptide or a cytokine Receptorpolypeptide the invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleicacid molecule, or a cell as described herein for use in therapy, e.g.,the use of a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell asdescribed herein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition inthe prophylaxis and/or treatment of proliferative disorders,particularly disorders caused by, associated with and/or accompanied bydysfunction of TNF cytokines, such as tumors, e.g. solid or lymphatictumors, infectious diseases, inflammatory diseases, metabolic diseases,autoimmune disorders, e.g. rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases,degenerative diseases, e.g. neurodegenerative diseases such as multiplesclerosis, apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

In certain embodiments where the effector polypeptide is an antibody, asingle chain antibody or a fragment of an antibody or a single chainantibody the invention also relates to a fusion protein, a nucleic acidmolecule, or a cell as described herein for use in therapy, e.g., theuse of a fusion protein, a nucleic acid molecule, or a cell as describedherein for the preparation of a pharmaceutical composition in theprophylaxis and/or treatment of proliferative disorders, immunologicdisorders, autoimmune disorders, inflammatory disease, lymphatic tumors,infectious diseases, metabolic diseases, autoimmune disorders, e.g.rheumatoid and/or arthritic diseases, degenerative diseases, e.g.neurodegenerative diseases such as multiple sclerosis,apoptosis-associated diseases and transplant rejections.

The composition may be administered as monotherapy or as combinationtherapy with further medicaments, e.g. cytostatic or chemotherapeuticagents, corticosteroids and/or antibiotics. Preferably, the compositionis administered together with tumor-selective apoptosis sensitizingand/or inducing agents, e.g. as described in Example 2.8.

The fusion protein is administered to a subject in need thereof,particularly a human patient, in a sufficient dose for the treatment ofthe specific conditions by suitable means. For example, the fusionprotein may be formulated as a pharmaceutical composition together withpharmaceutically acceptable carriers, diluents and/or adjuvants.Therapeutic efficacy and toxicity may be determined according tostandard protocols. The pharmaceutical composition may be administeredsystemically, e.g. intraperitoneally, intramuscularly or intravenouslyor locally, e.g. intranasally, subcutaneously or intrathecally.Preferred is intravenous administration.

The dose of the fusion protein administered will of course be dependenton the subject to be treated, on the subject's weight, the type andseverity of the disease, the manner of administration and the judgementof the prescribing physician. For the administration of fusion proteins,a daily dose of 0.001 to 100 mg/kg is suitable.

REFERENCES

-   1. Locksley R M, Killeen N and Lenardo M J (2001) Cell 104: 487-501-   2. Bodmer J L, Schneider P and Tschopp J (2002) Trends Biochem. Sci.    27: 19-26-   3. Grell M, Douni E, Wajant H, Lohden M., Clauss M, Maxeiner B,    Georgopoulos S, Lesslauer W, Kollias G, Pfizenmaier K and Scheurich    P (1995) Cell 83: 793-802-   4. Schneider P, Holler N, Bodmer J L, Hahne M, Frei K, Fontana A and    Tschopp J (1998) J. Exp. Med. 187: 1205-1213-   5. Wajant H, Moosmayer D, Wuest T, Bartke T, Gerlach E, Schonherr U,    Peters N, Scheurich P and Pfizenmaier K (2001) Oncogene 20:    4101-4106-   6. Haswell L E, Glennie M J and Al-Shamkhani A (2001) Eur. J.    Immunol. 31: 3094-31008-   7. Holler N, Tardivel A, Kovacsovics-Bankowski M, Hertig S, Gaide O,    Martinon F, Tinel A, Deperthes D, Calderara S, Schulthess T, Engel    J, Schneider P and Tschopp J (2003) Mol. Cell. Biol. 23: 1428-1440-   8. Stone G W, Barzee S, Snarsky V, Kee K, Spina C A, Yu X F and    Kornbluth R S (2006) J. Virol. 80: 1762-177216-   9. Mundle S D and Raza A (2002) Trends Immunol. 23: 187-194-   10. Siegel R M, Muppidi J R, Sarker M, Lobito A, Jen M, Martin D,    Straus S E and Lenardo M J (2004) J. Cell Biol. 167: 735-744-   11. Henkler F, Behrle E, Dennehy K M, Wicovsky A, Peters N, Warnke    C, Pfizenmaier K and Wajant H (2005) J. Cell Biol. 168: 1087-1098

Basic Structure of a Fusion Protein

In the following, the basic structure of the recombinant proteins of theinvention is shown exemplified for the TNF-superfamily cytokines asdescribed herein. This exemplification is not intended to limit thegeneral scope of the invention but to give a general impression of thecomponents present in the fusion protein.

As a basic structure the fusion protein comprises the followingelements:

-   -   (i) a collectin family trimerization domain comprising        -   a. a collectin family Carbohydrate Recognition Domain; and        -   b. a collectin family neck region;    -   (ii) a linker element; and    -   (iii) an effector polypeptide, wherein the effector polypeptide        is located N-terminally of the collectin family neck region.

1.1 Sequences of the Signal Peptides

(SEQ ID NO: 23) MNFGFSLIFLVLVLKGVQC (SEQ ID NO: 24) METDTLLLWVLLLWVPGSTG(SEQ ID NO: 25) METDTLLLWVLLLWVPAGNG

1.2 Flag-Epitope/Enterokinase-Processing Site

(SEQ ID NO: 31) DYKDDDDKD

1.3 Human Collectins

Surfactant Protein-D  (SEQ ID NO: 21)  1 MLLFLLSALV LLTQPLGYLE AEMKTYSHRT TPSACTLVMC SSVESGLPGR DGRDGREGPR 61 GEKGDPGLPG AAGQAGMPGQ AGPVGPKGDN GSVGEPGPKG DTGPSGPPGP PGVPGPAGRE121 GPLGKQGNIG PQGKPGPKGE AGPKGEVGAP GMQGSAGARG LAGPKGERGV PGERGVPGNA181 GAAGSAGAMG PQGSPGARGP PGLKGDKGIP GDKGAKGESG LPDVASLRQQ VEALQGQVQH241 LQAAFSQYKK VELFPNGQSV GEKIFKTAGF VKPFTEAQLL CTQAGGQLAS PRSAAENAAL301 QQLVVAKNEA AFLSMTDSKT EGKFTYPTGE SLVYSNWAPG EPNDDGGSED CVEIFTNGKW361 NDRACGEKRL VVCEF Collectin-11  (SEQ ID NO: 22)  1 MRGNLALVGV LISLAFLSLL PSGHPQPAGD DACSVQILVP GLKGDAGEKG DKGAPGRPGR 61 VGPTGEKGDM GDKGQKGSVG RHGKIGPIGS KGEKGDSGDI GPPGPNGEPG LPCECSQLRK121 AIGEMDNQVS QLTSELKFIK NAVAGVRETE SKIYLLVKEE KRYADAQLSC QGRGGTLSMP181 KDEAANGLMA AYLAQAGLAR VFIGINDLEK EGAFVYSDHS PMRTFNKWRS GEPNNAYDEE241 DCVEMVASGG WNDVACHTTM YFMCEFDKEN M

Various fragments of the human collectins Surfactant protein-D andcollectin-11 are conceivable as trimerization domains as describedherein.

1.4 Flexible Linker Element

(GSS)a(SSG)b(GSG)c, SEQ ID NO: 33, wherein a, b, c are each 0, 1, 2, 3,4, 5 or 6.

1.5 TNF-Superfamily Cytokine/Receptor Binding Domain Thereof (See AlsoTable 1)

SEQ NP_000586_TNFSF1_LTA KEYWORD PROTEIN FEATURES ORIGIN SEQ-ID-01  1 MTPPERLFLP RVCGTTLHLL LLGLLLVLLP GAQGLPGVGL TPSAAQTARQ HPKMHLAHST 61 LKPAAHLIGD PSKQNSLLWR ANTDRAFLQD GFSLSNNSLL VPTSGIYFVY SQVVFSGKAY121 SPKATSSPLY LAHEVQLFSS QYPFHVPLLS SQKMVYPGLQ EPWLHSMYHG AAFQLTQGDQ181 LSTHTDGIPH LVLSPSTVFF GAFAL SEQ NP_000585_TNFSF2_TNFaKEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-02  1 MSTESMIRDV ELAEEALPKK TGGPQGSRRC LFLSLFSFLI VAGATTLFCL LHFGVIGPQR 61 EEFPRDLSLI SPLAQAVRSS SRTPSDKPVA HVVANPQAEG QLQWLNRRAN ALLANGVELR121 DNQLVVPSEG LYLIYSQVLF KGQGCPSTHV LLTHTISRIA VSYQTKVNLL SAIKSPCQRE181 TPEGAEAKPW YEPIYLGGVF QLEKGDRLSA EINRPDYLDF AESGQVYFGI IALSEQ NP_002332_TNFSF3_LTB KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-03  1 MGALGLEGRG GRLQGRGSLL LAVAGATSLV TLLLAVPITV LAVLALVPQD QGGLVTETAD 61 PGAQAQQGLG FQKLPEEEPE TDLSPGLPAA HLIGAPLKGQ GLGWETTKEQ AFLTSGTQFS121 DAEGLALPQD GLYYLYCLVG YRGRAPPGGG DPQGRSVTLR SSLYRAGGAY GPGTPELLLE181 GAETVTPVLD PARRQGYGPL WYTSVGFGGL VQLRRGERVY VNISHPDMVD FARGKTFFGA241 VMVG SEQ NP_003317_TNFSF4_OX40L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-04  1 MERVQPLEEN VGNAARPRFE RNKLLLVASV IQGLGLLLCF TYICLHFSAL QVSHRYPRIQ 61 SIKVQFTEYK KEKGFILTSQ KEDEIMKVQN NSVIINCDGF YLISLKGYFS QEVNISLHYQ121 KDEEPLFQLK KVRSVNSLMV ASLTYKDKVY LNVTTDNTSL DDFHVNGGEL ILIHQNPGEF181 CVL SEQ NP_000065_TNFSF5_CD40L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-05  1 MIETYNQTSP RSAATGLPIS MKIFMYLLTV FLITQMIGSA LFAVYLHRRL DKIEDERNLH 61 EDFVFMKTIQ RCNTGERSLS LLNCEEIKSQ FEGFVKDIML NKEETKKENS FEMQKGDQNP121 QIAAHVISEA SSKTTSVLQW AEKGYYTMSN NLVTLENGKQ LTVKRQGLYY IYAQVTFCSN181 REASSQAPFI ASLCLKSPGR FERILLRAAN THSSAKPCGQ QSIHLGGVFE LQPGASVFVN241 VTDPSQVSHG TGFTSFGLLK L SEQ NP_000630_TNFSF6_CD95L KEYWORD PROTEINORIGIN SEQ-ID-06  1 MQQPFNYPYP QIYWVDSSAS SPWAPPGTVL PCPTSVPRRP GQRRPPPPPP PPPLPPPPPP 61 PPLPPLPLPP LKKRGNHSTG LCLLVMFFMV LVALVGLGLG MFQLFHLQKE LAELRESTSQ121 MHTASSLEKQ IGHPSPPPEK KELRKVAHLT GKSNSRSMPL EWEDTYGIVL LSGVKYKKGG181 LVINETGLYF VYSKVYFRGQ SCNNLPLSHK VYMRNSKYPQ DLVMMEGKMM SYCTTGQMWA241 RSSYLGAVFN LTSADHLYVN VSELSLVNFE ESQTFFGLYK LSEQ NP_001243_TNFSF7_CD27L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-07  1 MPEEGSGCSV RRRPYGCVLR AALVPLVAGL VICLVVCIQR FAQAQQQLPL ESLGWDVAEL 61 QLNHTGPQQD PRLYWQGGPA LGRSFLHGPE LDKGQLRIHR DGIYMVHIQV TLAICSSTTA121 SRHHPTTLAV GICSPASRSI SLLRLSFHQG CTIASQRLTP LARGDTLCTN LTGTLLPSRN181 TDETFFGVQW VRP SEQ NP_001235_TNFSF8_CD30L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-08  1 MDPGLQQALN GMAPPGDTAM HVPAGSVASH LGTTSRSYFY LTTATLALCL VFTVATIMVL 61 VVQRTDSIPN SPDNVPLKGG NCSEDLLCIL KRAPFKKSWA YLQVAKHLNK TKLSWNKDGI121 LHGVRYQDGN LVIQFPGLYF IICQLQFLVQ CPNNSVDLKL ELLINKHIKK QALVTVCESG181 MQTKHVYQNL SQFLLDYLQV NTTISVNVDT FQYIDTSTFP LENVLSIFLY SNSDSEQ NP_003802_TNFSF9_CD137L KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-09  1 MEYASDASLD PEAPWPPAPR ARACRVLPWA LVAGLLLLLL LAAACAVFLA CPWAVSGARA 61 SPGSAASPRL REGPELSPDD PAGLLDLRQG MFAQLVAQNV LLIDGPLSWY SDPGLAGVSL121 TGGLSYKEDT KELVVAKAGV YYVFFQLELR RVVAGEGSGS VSLALHLQPL RSAAGAAALA181 LTVDLPPASS EARNSAFGFQ GRLLHLSAGQ RLGVHLHTEA RARHAWQLTQ GATVLGLFRV241 TPEIPAGLPS PRSE SEQ NP_003801_TNFSF10_TRAIL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-10  1 MAMMEVQGGP SLGQTCVLIV IFTVLLQSLC VAVTYVYFTN ELKQMQDKYS KSGIACFLKE 61 DDSYWDPNDE ESMNSPCWQV KWQLRQLVRK MILRTSEETI STVQEKQQNI SPLVRERGPQ121 RVAAHITGTR GRSNTLSSPN SKNEKALGRK INSWESSRSG HSFLSNLHLR NGELVIHEKG181 FYYIYSQTYF RFQEEIKENT KNDKQMVQYI YKYTSYPDPI LLMKSARNSC WSKDAEYGLY241 SIYQGGIFEL KENDRIFVSV TNEHLIDMDH EASFFGAFLV GSEQ NP_003692_TNFSF11_a_RANKL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-11  1 MRRASRDYTK YLRGSEEMGG GPGAPHEGPL HAPPPPAPHQ PPAASRSMFV ALLGLGLGQV 61 VCSVALFFYF RAQMDPNRIS EDGTHCIYRI LRLHENADFQ DTTLESQDTK LIPDSCRRIK121 QAFQGAVQKE LQHIVGSQHI RAEKAMVDGS WLDLAKRSKL EAQPFAHLTI NATDIPSGSH181 KVSLSSWYHD RGWAKISNMT FSNGKLIVNQ DGFYYLYANI CFRHHETSGD LATEYLQLMV241 YVTKTSIKIP SSHTLMKGGS TKYWSGNSEF HFYSINVGGF FKLRSGEEIS IEVSNPSLLD301 PDQDATYFGA FKVRDID SEQ NP_003800_TNFSF12_TWEAK KEYWORD PROTEINORIGIN SEQ-ID-12  1 MAARRSQRRR GRRGEPGTAL LVPLALGLGL ALACLGLLLA VVSLGSRASL SAQEPAQEEL 61 VAEEDQDPSE LNPQTEESQD PAPFLNRLVR PRRSAPKGRK TRARRAIAAH YEVHPRPGQD121 GAQAGVDGTV SGWEEARINS SSPLRYNRQI GEFIVTRAGL YYLYCQVHFD EGKAVYLKLD181 LLVDGVLALR CLEEFSATAA SSLGPQLRLC QVSGLLALRP GSSLRIRTLP WAHLKAAPFL241 TYFGLFQVH SEQ NP_742085_TNFSF13_APRIL_ver1 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-13  1 MPASSPFLLA PKGPPGNMGG PVREPALSVA LWLSWGAALG AVACAMALLT QQTELQSLRR 61 EVSRLQGTGG PSQNGEGYPW QSLPEQSSDA LEAWENGERS RKRRAVLTQK QKKQHSVLHL121 VPINATSKDD SDVTEVMWQP ALRRGRGLQA QGYGVRIQDA GVYLLYSQVL FQDVTFTMGQ181 VVSREGQGRQ ETLFRCIRSM PSHPDRAYNS CYSAGVFHLH QGDILSVIIP RARAKLNLSP241 HGTFLGL SEQ NP_003799_TNFSF13_APRIL_ver2 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-14  1 MPASSPFLLA PKGPPGNMGG PVREPALSVA LWLSWGAALG AVACAMALLT QQTELQSLRR 61 EVSRLQGTGG PSQNGEGYPW QSLPEQSSDA LEAWENGERS RKRRAVLTQK QKKQHSVLHL121 VPINATSKDD SDVTEVMWQP ALRRGRGLQA QGYGVRIQDA GVYLLYSQVL FQDVTFTMGQ181 VVSREGQGRQ ETLFRCIRSM PSHPDRAYNS CYSAGVFHLH QGDILSVIIP RARAKLNLSP241 HGTFLGFVKL SEQ NP_006564_TNFSF13b_BAFF KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-15  1 MDDSTEREQS RLTSCLKKRE EMKLKECVSI LPRKESPSVR SSKDGKLLAA TLLLALLSCC 61 LTVVSFYQVA ALQGDLASLR AELQGHHAEK LPAGAGAPKA GLEEAPAVTA GLKIFEPPAP121 GEGNSSQNSR NKRAVQGPEE TVTQDCLQLI ADSETPTIQK GSYTFVPWLL SFKRGSALEE181 KENKILVKET GYFFIYGQVL YTDKTYAMGH LIQRKKVHVF GDELSLVTLF RCIQNMPETL241 PNNSCYSAGI AKLEEGDELQ LAIPRENAQI SLDGDVTFFG ALKLLSEQ NP_003798_TNFSF14_LIGHT KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-16  1 MEESVVRPSV FVVDGQTDIP FTRLGRSHRR QSCSVARVGL GLLLLLMGAG LAVQGWFLLQ 61 LHWRLGEMVT RLPDGPAGSW EQLIQERRSH EVNPAAHLTG ANSSLTGSGG PLLWETQLGL121 AFLRGLSYHD GALVVTKAGY YYIYSKVQLG GVGCPLGLAS TITHGLYKRT PRYPEELELL181 VSQQSPCGRA TSSSRVWWDS SFLGGVVHLE AGEKVVVRVL DERLVRLRDG TRSYFGAFMVSEQ NP_005109_TNFSF15_TL1A KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-17  1 MAEDLGLSFG ETASVEMLPE HGSCRPKARS SSARWALTCC LVLLPFLAGL TTYLLVSQLR 61 AQGEACVQFQ ALKGQEFAPS HQQVYAPLRA DGDKPRAHLT VVRQTPTQHF KNQFPALHWE121 HELGLAFTKN RMNYTNKFLL IPESGDYFIY SQVTFRGMTS ECSEIRQAGR PNKPDSITVV181 ITKVTDSYPE PTQLLMGTKS VCEVGSNWFQ PIYLGAMFSL QEGDKLMVNV SDISLVDYTK241 EDKTFFGAFL L SEQ NP_005083_TNFSF18_GITRL KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ-ID-18  1 MCLSHLENMP LSHSRTQGAQ RSSWKLWLFC SIVMLLFLCS FSWLIFIFLQ LETAKEPCMA 61 KFGPLPSKWQ MASSEPPCVN KVSDWKLEIL QNGLYLIYGQ VAPNANYNDV APFEVRLYKN121 KDMIQTLTNK SKIQNVGGTY ELHVGDTIDL IFNSEHQVLK NNTYWGIILL ANPQFISSEQ NP_001390_EDA-A1 KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-19  1 MGYPEVERRE LLPAAAPRER GSQGCGCGGA PARAGEGNSC LLFLGFFGLS LALHLLTLCC 61 YLELRSELRR ERGAESRLGG SGTPGTSGTL SSLGGLDPDS PITSHLGQPS PKQQPLEPGE121 AALHSDSQDG HQMALLNFFF PDEKPYSEEE SRRVRRNKRS KSNEGADGPV KNKKKGKKAG181 PPGPNGPPGP PGPPGPQGPP GIPGIPGIPG TTVMGPPGPP GPPGPQGPPG LQGPSGAADK241 AGTRENQPAV VHLQGQGSAI QVKNDLSGGV LNDWSRITMN PKVFKLHPRS GELEVLVDGT301 YFIYSQVEVY YINFTDFASY EVVVDEKPFL QCTRSIETGK TNYNTCYTAG VCLLKARQKI361 AVKMVHADIS INMSKHTTFF GAIRLGEAPA S SEQ NP_001005609_EDA-A2KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGIN SEQ-ID-20  1 MGYPEVERRE LLPAAAPRER GSQGCGCGGA PARAGEGNSC LLFLGFFGLS LALHLLTLCC 61 YLELRSELRR ERGAESRLGG SGTPGTSGTL SSLGGLDPDS PITSHLGQPS PKQQPLEPGE121 AALHSDSQDG HQMALLNFFF PDEKPYSEEE SRRVRRNKRS KSNEGADGPV KNKKKGKKAG181 PPGPNGPPGP PGPPGPQGPP GIPGIPGIPG TTVMGPPGPP GPPGPQGPPG LQGPSGAADK241 AGTRENQPAV VHLQGQGSAI QVKNDLSGGV LNDWSRITMN PKVFKLHPRS GELEVLVDGT301 YFIYSQVYYI NFTDFASYEV VVDEKPFLQC TRSIETGKTN YNTCYTAGVC LLKARQKIAV361 KMVHADISIN MSKHTTFFGA IRLGEAPAS

Various fragments, e.g., receptor binding domains, of TNF-superfamilycytokines are conceivable as described herein.

1.6 Examples of Fusion Proteins

SP-hsTrailsyn-SPD-Konstrukt-1_PRO.PRO KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ ID NO: 26   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSGLPDVAS LRQQVEALQG QVQHLQAAFS QYKKVELFPN GQSVGEKIFK TAGFVKPFTE241 AQLLCTQAGG QLASPRSAAE NAALQQLVVA KNEAAFLSMT DSKTEGKFTY PTGESLVYSN301 WAPGEPNDDG GSEDCVEIFT NGKWNDRACG EKRLVVCEFSP-hsTrailsyn-SPD-Konstrukt-2_PRO.PRO KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ ID NO: 27   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE 61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF181 GAFLVGSGLP DVASLRQQVE ALQGQVQHLQ AAFSQYKKVE LFPNGQSVGE KIFKTAGFVK241 PFTEAQLLCT QAGGQLASPR SAAENAALQQ LVVAKNEAAF LSMTDSKTEG KFTYPTGESL301 VYSNWAPGEP NDDGGSEDCV EIFTNGKWND RACGEKRLVV CEF ORIGIN SEQ ID NO: 28  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE 61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF181 GAFLVGSGLP DVASLRQQVE ALQGQVQHLQ AAFSQYKKVE LFPNGSP-hsTrailsyn-coll11-Konstrukt-1.pro KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ ID NO: 29  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSQLRKAIG EMDNQVSQLT SELKFIKNAV AGVRETESKI YLLVKEEKRY ADAQLSCQGR241 GGTLSMPKDE AANGLMAAYL AQAGLARVFI GINDLEKEGA FVYSDHSPMR TFNKWRSGEP301 NNAYDEEDCV EMVASGGWND VACHTTMYFM CEFDKENMSP-hsTrailsyn-coll-11-Konstrukt-2.pro KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ ID NO: 30  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE 61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF181 GAFLVGSQLR KAIGEMDNQV SQLTSELKFI KNAVAGVRET ESKIYLLVKE EKRYADAQLS241 CQGRGGTLSM PKDEAANGLM AAYLAQAGLA RVFIGINDLE KEGAFVYSDH SPMRTFNKWR301 SGEPNNAYDE EDCVEMVASG GWNDVACHTT MYFMCEFDKE NMSP-hsTrailsyn-coll-11-Konstrukt-3.pro KEYWORD PROTEIN ORIGINSEQ ID NO: 31  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ERGPQRVAAH ITGTRGRSNT LSSPNSKNEK ALGRKINSWE 61 SSRSGHSFLS NLHLRNGELV IHEKGFYYIY SQTYFRFQEE IKENTKNDKQ MVQYIYKYTS121 YPDPILLMKS ARNSCWSKDA EYGLYSIYQG GIFELKENDR IFVSVTNEHL IDMDHEASFF181 GAFLVGSQLR KAIGEMDNQV SQLTSELKFI KNAVAGVRET ES

Examples 1.1 Construction of TNF-SF-Proteins Stabilised by a C-TerminalPositioned Collectin Derived Trimerization Domain

The trimerization motifs (Tables 2. and 3) derived from humanCollectin-11 (Col11), the “coiled coil” of Collectin-11 (CC11), humanpulmonary surfactant protein-D (SP-D), the “coiled coil” of SP-D (CCSPD)were fused C-terminally to the human receptor binding domain (RBD) ofCD95L (“CD95L-RBD”; Glu142-Leu281), human TRAIL-RBD (Gln120-Gly281),human LIGHT-RBD (Glu91-Val240) and human APRIL-RBD (Lys113-Leu250),respectively.

TABLE 2 List of the used regions from wild type (wt) sequences for theconstruction of trimerizing motifs. Amino acids of the unprocessedTrimerization wt sequences used for motif motif construction Swiss-Protentry SPD 220-375 P35247 SPD_F335A 220-375; Phe355 −> Ala355 P35247SPD_F335D 220-375; Phe355 −> Asp355 P35247 CCSPD 220-257 P35247 Col11117-271 Q9BWP8 CC11 116-151 Q9BWP8

TABLE 3 Explanation of C-terminal trimerization motifs used to generatestable TNFSF fusion proteins. Trimerization motif Explanation SPD humanSurfactant protein-D (coiled-coiled “neck” + Carbohydrate RecognitionDomain, CRD) SPD_F335A as in 1, but with the mutation Phe −> Ala atposition 335 (numbering referring to processed wild type SP-D) SPD_F335Das in 1, but with the mutation Phe −> Asp at position 335 (numberingreferring to processed wild type SP-D) CCSPD coiled-coiled “neck” ofhuman SP-D Col11 human Collectin-11 (coiled-coiled “neck” + CRD of humanCollectin-11) CC11 coiled-coiled “neck” of human Collectin-11 T4Bacteriophage T4 Whisker protein (WO2008025516) 69 Bacteriophage 69Whisker protein (WO2008025516)

Between the TNFSF-RBD and the trimerization domain, a flexible linkerelement was placed with varying lengths (Table 4):

TABLE 4  Linker names and amino acid sequence (G = glycine; S = serine)Linker name Amino-acid sequence A GSS GSS GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 34) BGSS GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 35) C GSS GS (SEQ ID NO: 36) D GS

1.2 Generation of Expression Constructs

The nucleic acid molecule encoding the fusion protein as describedherein may be cloned into a suitable vector for expressing the fusionprotein. The molecular tools necessary in order to generate such avector are known to the skilled person and comprise restriction enzymes,vectors, and suitable host for propagating the vectors.

For purification and analytical strategies, a Strep-tag II (amino acidsequence WSHPQFEK, SEQ ID NO: 38) was added C-terminally. This affinitytag was linked to the trimerization domain by a flexible linker element(amino acid sequence PSSSSSSA, SEQ ID NO: 39). To allow for secretorybased expression, signal peptides derived from human Igκ were fused tothe N-termini of said proteins. The amino acid sequences of the fusionproteins were backtranslated and their codon usage optimised formammalian cell-based expression. Gene synthesis was done by ENTELECHONGmbH (Regensburg, Germany). The final expression cassettes weresubcloned into pCDNA4-HisMax-backbone, using unique Hind-III- andNot-I-sites of the plasmid. All expression cassettes were routinelyverified by DNA sequencing.

Data will be presented herein for the following constructs (Table 5a and5b):

TABLE 5a Overview of TRAIL fusion proteins with shown data. TRAIL TRAILMutein TRAIL Mutein (wild-type) (R1-specific) (R2-specific) Linker:Motif A B C D A B C D A B C D SPD • • • • • n.s. n.s. • • n.s. n.s. •SPD_F335A • n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s.SPD_F335D • n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. CCSPD• • • • • n.s. n.s. • • n.s. n.s. • Col11 • • • • n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s.n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. CC11 • • • • n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s.T4 • • • • n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. 69 • • • • n.s. n.s.n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. n.s. Filled circles indicate that data arepresented. n.s., not shown.

TABLE 1 5b: Overview of LIGHT-, APRIL-, and CD95L-constructs with showndata. LIGHT APRIL CD95L Linker: Motif A A A SPD    CCSPD   n.s.Col11   n.s. 69   n.s. Filled circles indicate that data arepresented. N.s., not shown.

1.3 Expression and Purification of Engineered Ligands of the TNFSuperfamily

Hek 293T cells grown in DMEM+GlutaMAX (GibCo) supplemented with 10% FBS,100 units/ml Penicillin and 100 μg/ml Streptomycin were transientlytransfected with plasmids encoding a fusion protein as described herein.Cell culture supernatant containing recombinant proteins were harvestedthree days post transfection and clarified by centrifugation at 300×gfollowed by filtration through a 0.22 μm sterile filter. For affinitypurification, 4 ml of 50% Streptactin Sepharose (IBA GmbH, Gottingen,Germany) were packed to a 2 ml column and equilibrated with 30 mlphosphate buffered saline, pH 7.4 (PBS; Invitrogen Cat. 10010) or bufferW (100 mM Tris-HCl, 150 mM NaCl pH 8.0). The cell culture supernatantwas applied to the column at 4° C. with a flow rate of 2 ml/min.Subsequently, the column was washed with PBS or buffer W andspecifically bound proteins were eluted stepwise by addition of 5×2 mlbuffer E (PBS or buffer W with 2.5 mM Desthiobiotin, pH 7.4). Theprotein content of the eluate fractions was analysed by absorptionspectroscopy and by silver-stained SDS-PAGE. Positive fractions weresubsequently concentrated by ultrafiltration (Sartorius, Vivaspin,10,000 Da cut-off) and further analysed by size exclusion chromatography(SEC).

SEC was performed on a Superdex 200 column using an Äkta chromatographysystem (GE-Healthcare). The column was equilibrated with PBS (InvitrogenCat. 10010) and the concentrated, streptactin purified proteins wereloaded onto the SEC column at a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min. The elution ofwas monitored by absorbance at 280 nm. The apparent molecular weight ofpurified proteins were determined based on calibration of the Superdex200 column with gel filtration standard proteins (Bio-Rad GmbH, München,Germany).

1.4. Cell Death Assays

To analyze caspase activation, a cellular assay with the Jurkat A3permanent human T-cell line (cat. no. CRL2570, ATCC) was used. Jurkatcells were grown in flasks with RPMI 1640-medium+GlutaMAX (GibCo)supplemented with 10% FBS (Biochrom), 100 units/ml Penicillin and 100μl/ml Streptomycin (GibCo). Prior to the assay, 100,000 cells wereseeded per well into a 96-well microtiterplate. The addition ofdifferent solutions containing the protein with or without acrosslinking antibody to the wells (final volume: 200 μl) was followedby a 3 hour incubation at 37° C. Cells were lysed by adding 20 μl lysisbuffer (250 mM HEPES, 50 mM MgCl₂, 10 mM EGTA, 5% Triton-X-100, 100 mMDTT, 10 mM AEBSF, pH 7.5) and plates were incubated on ice for 30minutes to 2 hours. Apoptosis is paralleled by an increased activity ofCaspases. Hence, cleavage of the specific Caspase substrate Ac-DEVD-AFC(Biomol) was used to determine the extent of apoptosis. For the Caspaseactivity assay, 20 μl cell lysate was transferred to a black 96-wellmicrotiterplate. After the addition of 80 μl buffer containing 50 mMHEPES, 1% Sucrose, 0.1% CHAPS, 50 μM Ac-DEVD-AFC, and 25 mM DTT, pH 7.5,the plate was transferred to a Tecan Infinite F500 microtiterplatereader and the increase in fluorescence intensity was monitored(excitation wavelength 400 nm, emission wavelength 505 nm).

For the determination of cell death in HT1080 fibrosarcoma, HeLa cervixcarcinoma and WM35 melanoma cells, 15,000 cells were plated in 96-wellplates over night in RPMI 1640-medium+GlutaMAX (GibCo) supplemented with10% FBS (Biochrom). For Colo205 cells, 50,000 cells were plated overnight. Cells were stimulated the following day with indicated ligand andincubated for an additional 18 hours. For HeLa and HT1080 cells,cycloheximide (Sigma) at a final concentration of 2.5 μg/ml was usedduring stimulation with ligands. Cell death of HT1080, HeLa and WM35 wasquantified by staining with buffer KV (0.5% crystal violet, 20%methanol). After staining, the wells were washed with water andair-dried. The dye was eluted with methanol and optical density at 595nm was measured with an ELISA reader. Viability of Colo205 cells wasquantified by MTS assay (Promega).

1.5 Hepatocellular Cytotoxicity Assay

To determine the effect of TRAIL fusion proteins, primary humanhepatocytes were prepared from healthy donors and cultured in Williams Emedium using 25,000 cells per well in 96-well plates. At day two, mediumwas changed to DMEM-F12 supplemented with 10% FCS, human insulin,Pen/Strep, minimum essential medium (MEM), sodium pyruvate and 10 mMHepes and cultured for another day. Cells were stimulated at day threewith varying concentrations of indicated proteins in presence or absenceof cross-linking antibodies (StrepMablmmo, IBA GmbH). To evaluate thepotential hepatotoxic effect of a cotreatment of ligands withchemotherapeutic agents, TRAIL-ASPD_F335D was coincubated at varyingconcentrations together with 5 mM of doxorubicin or 5 mM gemcitabine.Cells were incubated for 5 or 24 hours at 37° C. and 5% CO₂ and werethen lysed for determination of caspase activity as described in section“Cell death assays”.

1.6 Streptactin-ELISA

To determine the binding of receptors to constructed ligands,streptactin-coated 96-well microplates were used. Therefore,supernatants from transiently transfected HEK293 cells, mouse sera orpurified proteins were immobilized on streptactin-plates (IBA GmbH) for1-3 hours in PBS. Samples were diluted in ELISA binding/blocking buffer(PBS, 0.1% Tween-20, 20% SuperBlock T20-PBS (Pierce)). Plates werewashed with PBS+0.1% Tween-20 and incubated with mouse-anti-TRAILantibody (Pharmingen, clone RIK-2), TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc (R&D Systems),TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc (R&D Systems), TACI-Fc (R&D Systems) or HVEM-Fc (R&DSystems) for one hour at room temperature. Plates were again washed andFc-proteins were detected with anti-human- or anti-mouse-Fc-specificperoxidase-conjugated antibodies (Sigma). Colour reaction was done byaddition of 100 μl per well of TMB substrate (Kem-En-Tec Diagnostics)and the absorbance at 450 nm and 630 nm was determined with an ELISAreader after addition of 25 μl of 25% H₂SO₄ as stop-solution. Valueswere calculated as 450 nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

1.7 Mannan-Binding Assay

ELISA plates (Nunc Maxisorp) were incubated over night at 4° C. with 10μg/well of yeast mannan (Sigma) in sterile coating buffer (15 mM Na₂CO₃,35 mM NaHCO₃, 0.025% NaN₃, pH 9.6). Plates were first incubated for onehour at room temperature with buffer BB (20 mM Tris, 140 mM NaCl, 5 mMCaCl₂, 0.1% BSA and 20% SuperBlock T20-PBS (Pierce)) and secondly foradditional 90 minutes with varying concentrations of indicated ligandsin buffer BB. Plates were washed with buffer WB (20 mM Tris, 140 mMNaCl, 5 mM CaCl₂, 0.05% Tween-20) and detection was done by usingstreptactin-HRP (IBA GmbH) in buffer BB. Plates were washed anddeveloped with TMB substrate (Kem-En-Tec Diagnostics). The absorption at450 nm and 630 nm was determined with an ELISA reader after addition of25 μl of 25% H₂SO₄ as stop-solution. Values were calculated as 450nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

1.8 Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-SPD Fusion Proteins

Male CD1 mice (Charles River) were intravenously injected with 10 μgprotein dissolved in 300 μl PBS (Invitrogen). Blood was collected after0 min (predose), 5 min, 30 min, 2 hours, 6 hours and 24 hours. For eachtime point, two samples were collected. Blood samples were processed toobtain serum and were stored at −15° C. The concentration ofTRAIL-fusion proteins was determined using an ELISA as described below(chapter 1.9) and half-lives were calculated (GraphPad Prism v4.0).

1.9 ELISA for the Quantitation of TRAIL-Constructs in Mouse Sera

To quantitate the concentration of TRAIL proteins in mouse sera(originating from pharmacokinetic studies), an ELISA method employing96-well microplates was used.

ELISA plates were coated for 1 h at 37° C. with 2 μg/ml mouse-anti-TRAIL(clone RIK-2; Pharmingen). After washing with PBS+0.1% Tween-20 andblocking the plate for 30 min at 37° C. with StartingBlock™ (Pierce),serum samples at a concentration of 0.2% and 5%, calibration samples andcontrol samples were added and incubated for 1 h at 37° C. Calibrationand control samples were prepared from the respective TRAIL batch(TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-ASPD-F335A or TRAIL-ASPD-F335D) and weresupplemented with 0.2% or 5% non-treated pooled CD1-mouse serum toaccount for potential matrix effects. Control samples (high, medium andlow concentration of the TRAIL-construct) were added as quality controlsto ensure precision and accuracy of the TRAIL-quantitation in the givenassay window. Plates were again washed and the StrepTag-containingTRAIL-constructs were detected with 1:1000 diluted StrepTactin-POD(IBA). All samples and proteins were diluted with ELISA buffer (PBS,0.1% Tween-20, 5% StartingBlock (Pierce)). The colour reaction startedafter addition of 100 μl per well TMB substrate (Kem-En-TecDiagnostics). the absorbance at 450 nm and 630 nm was determined with anELISA reader after addition of 25 μl of 25% H2SO4 as stop-solution.Values were calculated as 450 nm-630 nm with MS Excel.

2. Results 2.1 Characterization of CD95L Fusion Protein (CD95L-ASPD)

From the Streptactin-affinity purified CD95L-ASPD 0.5 ml (0.86 mgprotein) were loaded with a flow rate of 0.5 ml/min onto a Superdex200column using PBS as running buffer. Fractions of 0.5 ml were collected(A1 to A11 are indicated). The retention volume of the major peak at11.92 ml corresponded to 170 kDa as determined from size exclusionstandard. This indicated that the protein is a trimer composed ofglycosylated monomers. The calculated molecular weight of the monomericpolypeptide is 38 kDa. An aliquot of fractions A1 to A11 was used forSDS-PAGE and caspase activity. Only the defined trimeric peak (fractionsA7 to A10) was used for final analyses. The results are shown in FIG. 1.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purifiedCD95L-ASPD was used for reducing SDS-PAGE followed by silver staining.The band detected at approximately 40-45 kDa (indicated by an arrow)corresponded to CD95L-ASPD. The trimeric species was present infractions A7 to A10. The results are shown in FIG. 2.

Jurkat cells were incubated with aliquots at a final 8-fold dilutionfrom fractions A1 to A15 from SEC with affinity purified CD95L-ASPD.Cells were lysed after 3h incubation and the caspase activity wasdetermined with a fluorogenic assay. The fractions corresponding to thetrimeric peak (fractions A7-A10) induced clear but weak caspase activityin Jurkat as these cells are known to require extensively cross-linkedligand. The aggregated and undefined species in fractions A1-A6 istherefore a potent inducer of caspase activation (not used further).Importantly, only the defined trimeric species (A7 to A10) was collectedand used for final analyses. The results are shown in FIG. 3.

The human cancer cell lines HT1080 (A), HeLa (B) or WM35 (C) wereincubated with indicated concentrations of purified, trimeric CD95L-ASPDin the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody (2.5 microgram/mlof anti-Strep-tag II). Cells were incubated for 18h and cytotoxicity wasanalyzed by crystal violet staining. As a result, CD95L-ASPD inducedcell death in HeLa cervix carcinoma and HT1080 fibrosarcoma, but not inWM35 melanoma cells. The results are shown in FIG. 4.

The amino acid sequence of CD95L-ASPD is shown below.

Sp-CD95L-ASPD Total amino acid number: 346, MW = 37682 ORIGIN SEQ ID 40   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG ELRKVAHLTG KSNSRSMPLE WEDTYGIVLL SGVKYKKGGL 61 VINETGLYFV YSKVYFRGQS CNNLPLSHKV YMRNSKYPQD LVMMEGKMMS YCTTGQMWAR121 SSYVGAVFNL TSADHLYVNV SELSLVNFEE SQTFFGLYKL GSSGSSGSSG SGLPDVASLR181 QQVEALQGQV QHLQAAFSQY KKVELFPNGQ SVGEKIFKTA GFVKPFTEAQ LLCTQAGGQL241 ASPRSAAENA ALQQLVVAKN EAAFLSMTDS KTEGKFTYPT GESLVYSNWA PGEPNDDGGS301 EDCVEIFTNG KWNDRACGEK RLVVCEFGGS PSSSSSSAWS HPQFEK1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-160: CD95L-receptor binding domain161-171: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)172-209: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D210-327: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D328-338: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 339-346: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.2 Characterization of LIGHT Fusion Proteins (LIGHT-ASPD)

From affinity purified LIGHT-ASPD 0.5 ml (1.56 mg) were loaded onto aSuperdex 200 column and resolved at 0.5 ml/min using PBS as runningbuffer. The major peak detected at 11.96 ml corresponded to a size of170-180 kDa indicating that LIGHT-ASPD is a trimer composed of threeglycosylated monomers. The trimeric peak (fractions A7 to A10) wascollected and used for final analyses. The inset shows the silverstained SDS-PAGE of two independent purified and trimeric LIGHT-ASPDbatches (designated 0917 and 0918). The results are shown in FIG. 5.

Varying concentrations (0-10 microgram/ml) of affinity and SEC purified,trimeric LIGHT-ASPD were used for immobilized via the Strep-tag II onStreptactin-coated microplates. LIGHT-ASPD was then detected in a ELISAset-up using 100 ng/ml of Fc-fusion proteins of the receptors HVEM andTRAIL-Receptor 1, respectively. Whereas the ELISA signal increased forHVEM-Fc with increasing amounts of immobilized ligand, no signal wasdetected for TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc over the whole range analyzed. Thisindicated that LIGHT-ASPD is a functional molecule that could bind toits receptor HVEM. The results are shown in FIG. 6.

The amino acid sequence of the LIGHT-ASPD fusion protein is shown below:

Sp-LIGHT-ASPD Total amino acid number: 356, MW = 37931 ORIGIN SEQ ID 41   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPGSTG EVNPAAHLTG ANSSLTGSGG PLLWETQLGL AFLRGLSYHD 61 GALVVTKAGY YYIYSKVQLG GVGCPLGLAS TITHGLYKRT PRYPEELELL VSQQSPCGRA121 TSSSRVWWDS SFLGGVVHLE AGEEVVVRVL DERLVRLRDG TRSYFGAFMV GSSGSSGSSG181 SGLPDVASLR QQVEALQGQV QHLQAAFSQY KKVELFPNGQ SVGEKIFKTA GFVKPFTEAQ241 LLCTQAGGQL ASPRSAAENA ALQQLVVAKN EAAFLSMTDS KTEGKFTYPT GESLVYSNWA301 PGEPNDDGGS EDCVEIFTNG KWNDRACGEK RLVVCEFGGS PSSSSSSAWS HPQFEK1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-170: LIGHT-receptor binding domain171-181: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)182-219: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D220-337: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D338-348: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 349-356: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.3 Characterization of TRAIL Fusion Proteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with 24 different expressionvectors encoding for TRAIL fusion proteins (Table 6).

TABLE 6 Overview fusion proteins produced by transient transfection ofexpression vecors. The ligand TRAIL was transfected as fusion proteinscomprising one of six stabilzing trimerization motifs and the linkerelement (A, B, C and D linker). No Ligand Linker Trimerization motif 1TRAIL A/B/C/D 69 2 TRAIL A/B/C/D T4 3 TRAIL A/B/C/D SPD 4 TRAIL A/B/C/DCCSPD 5 TRAIL A/B/C/D Col11 6 TRAIL A/B/C/D CC11

Supernatants were used for SDS-PAGE and TRAIL-constructs were detectedby Western Blot analysis employing an antibody specific for Strep-tagII.

Specific bands detected are indicated by an arrow. The expressionstrength depended on the type of the trimerization motif employed forconstruction, (SPD>69/T4/Collectin11/CCSPD/CC11) as well as on thelength of the linker element (A>B>C>D). The results are shown in FIG. 7.

Jurkat cells were incubated for three hours in the presence (filledbars, anti-Strep-tag II) or absence (clear bars) of a cross-linkingantibody (2.5 micrograms/ml anti-Strep-tag II) with supernatants fromtransiently transfected HEK cells. Supernatants contained TRAIL-fusionproteins with different trimerization motifs (T4, 69, SPD, CCSPD, Col11,CC11) fused through varying linker elements (A, B, C and D linker). Asnegative control, cell supernatant from untransfected cells was used.Jurkat cells were lysed and analyzed for caspase activity with afluorogenic assay.

As a result, the caspase activity decreased with the type of linkerelement employed (A>B>C>D) and on the Fold-On employed. Collectin-11 orcoiled coil of Collectin-11 (CCCol11) containing TRAIL constructs areexpressed (shown by Western Blot analyses), however were not functional,whereas SPD-derived fold-on motifs yielded functional TRAIL-ligands. Theresults are shown in FIG. 8.

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD was subjected to SEC by loading 0.5 ml (0.4mg protein) to a Superdex200 column at 0.5 ml/min with PBS as runningbuffer. Protein elution was monitored by absorption at 280 nm and 0.5 mlfractions were collected. The retention volume of 12.28 ml correspondsto 135-140 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. Thisindicated that TRAIL-ASPD is a homotrimer, as the calculated molecularweight of the monomeric polypeptide is 40 kDa. Importantly, for allfusion proteins analyzed by SEC consisting of the wild-type TRAIL-RBDsequence, an additional peak at around 8 ml corresponding to aggregatedand non-active TRAIL-fusion protein was observed. From the collectedfractions A1-A14 only the trimeric peak (A8-A10) was used for furtheranalyses. The results are shown in FIG. 9.

The human cancer cell lines HeLa, HT1080, Colo205 or WM35 were incubatedfor 18 hours with indicated concentrations of purified, trimericTRAIL-ASPD in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody (2.5microgram/ml of anti-Strep-tag II). Cell death was quantified by crystalviolet staining (HeLa, WM35 and HT1080) or by MTS assay (Colo205). Therise in the viability of Colo205 cells at high ligand concentration islikely due to limitation of cross-linking antibody. The results areshown in FIG. 10.

Varying (A) or a constant (B) concentration of affinity and SECpurified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD was used for immobilization onStreptactin-coated 96-well plates. Plates were then incubated for 5hwith 100,000 Jurkat cells per well at 37° C., 5% CO2 and the caspaseactivity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. To analyzespecificity, plate (B) was incubated for 30 minutes with indicatedvarying concentrations of an antagonistic anti-TRAIL antibody (cloneRIK-2, Pharmingen) prior addition of cells. The results are shown inFIG. 11.

HT1080 cells were incubated on the same 96-well plate with purified andtrimeric TRAIL-ASPD or TRAIL-DSPD at indicated concentrations. Celldeath was quantified the following day by crystal violet staining. Theuse of the D-linker reduced the bioactivity approximately 4.5-fold, asindicated by the EC50 values of 27 ng/ml and 6 ng/ml for TRAIL-DSPD andTRAIL-ASPD, respectively. The results are shown in FIG. 12.

The nucleic acid and amino sequences of TRAIL fusion polypeptides areshown below.

SEQ ID 42: Expression cassette of Sp-TRAIL-ASPDEndonuclease restriction sites are underlined (HindIII, AAGCTT; BamHI,GGATCC; NotI, GCGGCCGC). The translational start codon is in boldface.ORIGIN   1 AAGCTTGCCG CCACCATGGA GACCGATACA CTGCTCTTGT GGGTGCTCTT GCTGTGGGTT  61 CCTGCAGGTA ATGGTCAAAG AGTCGCAGCT CACATCACTG GGACTAGAGG CAGGAGTAAC 121 ACCCTGAGTT CTCCCAATTC CAAGAACGAG AAAGCCCTGG GTAGGAAGAT CAACTCCTGG 181 GAAAGCTCCA GAAGCGGCCA TAGCTTTCTT AGCAACCTCC ACTTGAGGAA TGGCGAACTT 241 GTGATCCATG AGAAGGGCTT CTACTACATC TACAGCCAGA CGTACTTCAG GTTCCAGGAG 301 GAAATCAAGG AGAACACCAA GAACGACAAG CAGATGGTGC AATACATCTA CAAGTACACG 361 TCATACCCTG ATCCTATACT GCTGATGAAG TCCGCCAGAA ACAGTTGCTG GAGCAAAGAC 421 GCTGAATACG GCCTGTATTC CATCTATCAG GGCGGTATCT TTGAACTCAA GGAGAACGAC 481 AGGATCTTCG TGTCTGTGAC AAACGAGCAT CTGATCGACA TGGACCATGA AGCGTCTTTC 541 TTCGGTGCCT TCTTGGTGGG ATCCTCTGGT TCGAGTGGTT CGAGTGGTTC TGGATTGCCA 601 GACGTTGCTT CTTTGAGACA ACAGGTTGAG GCTTTGCAGG GTCAAGTCCA GCACTTGCAG 661 GCTGCTTTCT CTCAATACAA GAAGGTTGAG TTGTTCCCAA ACGGTCAATC TGTTGGCGAA 721 AAGATTTTCA AGACTGCTGG TTTCGTCAAA CCATTCACGG AGGCACAATT ATTGTGTACT 781 CAGGCTGGTG GACAGTTGGC CTCTCCACGT TCTGCCGCTG AGAACGCCGC CTTGCAACAG 841 TTGGTCGTAG CTAAGAACGA GGCTGCTTTC TTGAGCATGA CTGATTCCAA GACAGAGGGC 901 AAGTTCACCT ACCCAACAGG AGAATCCTTG GTCTATTCTA ATTGGGCACC TGGAGAGCCC 961 AACGATGATG GCGGCTCAGA GGACTGTGTG GAAATCTTCA CCAATGGCAA GTGGAATGAC1021 AGAGCTTGTG GAGAGAAGCG TTTGGTGGTC TGTGAGTTCG GAGGCAGTCC TTCATCTTCA1081 TCTAGCTCTG CCTGGTCGCA TCCACAATTC GAGAAATAAT AGCGGCCGC SEQ ID 43 Sp-TRAIL-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40404 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT 241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP 301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW 361 SHPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)SEQ ID 44 Sp-TRAIL-ACCSPD Total amino acid number: 246, MW = 27534ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG PSSSSSSAWS 241 HPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-238: Linker element (PSSSSSSA) 239-246: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)SEQ ID 45 Sp-TRAIL-ACol11 Total amino acid number: 365, MW = 40806ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSQLRKAIGE MDNQVSQLTS ELKFIKNAVA GVRETESKIY LLVKEEKRYA 241 DAQLSCQGRG GTLSMPKDEA ANGLMAAYLA QAGLARVFIG INDLEKEGAF VYSDHSPMRT 301 FNKWRSGEPN NAYDEEDCVE MVASGGWNDV ACHTTMYFMC EFDKENMGSP SSSSSSAWSH 361 PQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-224: Coiled coil “neck” region of human Collectin-11225-347: C-type lectin domain of human Collectin-11348-357: Linker element (GSPSSSSSSA) 358-365: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)SEQ ID 46 Sp-TRAIL-ACC11 Total amino acid number: 246, MW = 27431 ORIGIN   1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS  61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP 121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL 181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGS QLRKAI GEMDNQVSQL TSELKFIKNA VAGVRETESG PSSSSSSAWS 241 HPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-193: Flexible linker element (A-linker; GSS GSS GSS GSG italic)194-229: Coiled coil “neck” region of human Collectin-11230-238: Linker element (GPSSSSSSA) 239-246: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.4 Characterization of Receptor-Selective TRAIL (‘Mutein’) FusionProteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with expression plasmidsencoding for different TRAIL receptor-selective SPD constructs:

No. Transfected Expression Vector 1 TRAILR1mut-A-SPD 2TRAILR1mut-A-CCSPD 3 TRAILR1mut-D-SPD 4 TRAILR1mut-D-CCSPD 5TRAILR2mut-A-SPD 6 TRAILR2mut-A-CCSPD 7 TRAILR2mut-D-SPD 8TRAILR2mut-D-CCSPD 9 TRAIL-A-SPD 10 TRAIL-A-CCSPD 11 TRAIL-D-SPD 12TRAIL-D-CCSPD

Supernatants were collected three days post-transfection and an aliquotwas used for SDS-PAGE and Western Blotting employing an antibodyspecific for Strep-tag II. Specific bands were detected at around 38 kDa(SPD-fusion proteins) and 28 kDa (coiled-coil-SPD fusion proteins). Theamount of expressed protein depended on the ligand itself (TRAILR1mutein>TRAILR2mutein>TRAIL), secondly the linker length used (A>D) andthird the trimerization motif used (SPD>CCSPD). Apparent molecularweights were as expected from the calculated sizes (40 kDa and 27 kDafor SPD and CCSPD fusion proteins, respectively). The results are shownin FIG. 13.

The selectivity of TRAIL-Receptor 1 or TRAIL-Receptor 2 towards fusionproteins of SPD/ccSPD and TRAIL, TRAILR1 mut and TRAILR2mut was shown byStreptactin-ELISA. Therefore, TRAIL-SPD-fusion proteins in supernatantsfrom transiently transfected HEK293 cells were immobilized onStreptactin coated microplates. Cell supernatant from untransfectedcells served as negative control. The results are shown in FIG. 14.Specifically bound proteins were detected with constant (A, B) orvarying (C, D) concentrations of either TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc orTRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc. As shown in (A), the ligand TRAILR1 mut fused toSPD variants is detected by TRAIL-Receptor 1, whereas the ligandTRAILR2mut is not. As shown in (B), the ligand TRAILR2mut ispreferentially detected by TRAIL-Receptor 2, whereas TRAILR1 mut- andTRAIL wild-type constructs are equally well detected. As shown in C,TRAIL-Receptor 1-Fc bound to TRAIL-R1mut-ASPD and TRAIL-ASPD equallywell over the whole receptor titration range, whereas TRAIL-R2mut-ASPDis not detected. As shown in D, TRAIL-Receptor 2-Fc bound toTRAIL-R2mut-ASPD and TRAIL-ASPD equally well over the receptor titrationrange analyzed, whereas the signal for TRAIL-R1mut-ASPD decreasedrapidly with decreasing concentrations of receptor.

One microgram/ml of affinity purified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1mut-ASPD or TRAILR2mut-ASPD in 100 microliter of PBS were used forimmobilization via the Strep-tag II on Streptactin-coated microplates.Bound ligands were detected in a ELISA set-up using Fc-fusion proteinsof TRAIL-Receptor 1 (A) or TRAIL-Receptor 2 (B). As shown in (A),TRAIL-Receptor 1 bound preferentially to the receptor-selective TRAILR1mut-ASPD as compared to TRAILR2mut-ASPD. As shown in (B), TRAIL-Receptor2 preferentially bound to TRAILR2mut-ASPD as compared to TRAILR1mut-ASPD. In conclusion, the constructed TRAIL variants fused to SPD arereceptor selective. The results are shown in FIG. 15.

Affinity purified TRAILR1 mut-ASPD was subjected to SEC by loading 0.5ml (0.95 mg protein) on a Superdex200 column. The results are shown inFIG. 16. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute with PBS as runningbuffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (fractions A1 to A14 areindicated). The retention volume of 12.46 ml corresponded to 140-145 kDaas determined by size exclusion standard. A minor peak at 10.83 mlindicated some aggregated species, importantly however, no peak wasdetected at the running front (8 ml) indicating that this molecule ismuch more soluble as compared to proteins containing parts of thewild-type TRAIL amino acid sequence.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purifiedTRAILR1 mut-ASPD was used for non-reducing (A) or reducing (B) SDS-PAGEfollowed by silver staining as shown in FIG. 17. Under non-reducingconditions, two bands were detected at 35 and 70 kDa, whereas a singleband of 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) was detected under reducingconditions. This indicated the formation of disulphide bridgedmolecules. The trimeric species was present in fractions A8 to A11 andwas used for later analyses.

Jurkat cells were incubated in the absence (open bars) or presence(filled bars) of 2.5 microgram/ml of cross-linking antibody withaliquots at a final 80-fold dilution from fractions A1 to A14 from SECof affinity purified TRAILR1mut-ASPD. The results are shown in FIG. 18.As negative control, Jurkat cells were incubated with medium only.Jurkat cells were lysed after 3h incubation and the caspase activity wasdetermined with a fluorogenic assay. As Jurkat cells have been shown tomainly express TRAIL-Receptor 2, no fraction induced significant caspaseactivity, even when TRAILR1 mit-ASPD was cross-linked by Strep-tag IIspecific antibody. This indicated that TRAILR1 mut-ASPD does not bind toTRAIL-Receptor 2.

Affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD was subjected to size exclusionchromatography by loading 0.5 ml (0.5 mg protein) to a Superdex 200column as shown in FIG. 19. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute withPBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (fractions A1to A14 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.60 ml corresponds to130-135 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. This indicatedthat TRAILR2mut-ASPD is a homotrimer as calculated from the expectedmonomeric weight of 40 kDa. Importantly, more than 95% was present inthe trimeric peak fraction and no aggregates were detected. The trimericpeak was used for later analyses.

An aliquot from size exclusion chromatography of affinity purifiedTRAILR2mut-ASPD was used for non-reducing (A) or reducing (B) SDS-PAGEfollowed by silver staining as shown in FIG. 20. Under non-reducingconditions, two bands were detected at 35 and 70 kDa, whereas a singleband of approximately 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) was detected underreducing conditions. This indicated the formation of disulphide bridgedmolecules. The trimeric species was present in fractions A9 to A11 andwas used for later analyses.

The results from a Jurkat cell kill assay with TRAILR2-mut-ASPD areshown in FIG. 21. Jurkat cells were incubated in the absence (clearbars) or presence (filled bars) of cross-linking antibodies (2.5microgram/ml anti-Strep-tag II) with aliquots from fractions A1 to A14from SEC of affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD. Samples were used atfinal 640-fold dilution. Cells were lysed after 3h of incubation and thecaspase activity was determined with a fluorogenic assay. As Jurkatcells have been shown to mainly express TRAIL-Receptor 2 that requiresmultimerized ligand forms for efficient signalling, TRAILR2mut-ASPDinduced caspase activity when cross-linked. This indicated thatTRAILR2mut-ASPD is a functional molecule.

The cytotoxic activity of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1 mut-ASPD andTRAILR2mut-ASPD on different human cancer cells is shown in FIG. 22. Theindicated cell lines HT1080 (A and B), Hela (C and D) or Colo205 (E andF) were treated with varying concentrations of purified and trimericTRAIL-ASPD, TRAILR1mut-ASPD or TRAILR2mut-ASPD in the absence (A, C andE) or presence (B, D and F) of cross-linking antibody (anti-Strep-tagII). Cells were incubated for 18 hours with indicated concentrations ofligands and cell death was quantified by crystal violet staining (HT1080and HeLa) or MTS assay (Colo205). As a result, the ligand TRAIL-ASPDinduced cell death on the three cell lines tested and TRAILR2mut-ASPDshowed superior cell killing activity. In contrast, TRAIL-Receptor 1selective TRAILR1 mut-ASPD was not active on any cell line tested.

Affinity purified TRAILR2mut-ASPD was concentrated 20-fold in PBS bycentrifugation through a 10 kDa membrane to give a solution of 2.5mg/ml. From the concentrate, 0.1 ml were subjected to size exclusionchromatography. As a result, only the trimeric peak and no aggregateswere detected, indicating that this composition has improved productioncapabilities (FIG. 23). Similar results were achieved for TRAILR1mut-ASPD, where a concentrated solution of even 5.4 mg/ml showed nosigns of aggregation (not shown). In contrast, all fusion proteinstested containing the receptor binding domain composed of the wild typeTRAIL sequence showed aggregation with 40% aggregates at concentrationsas low as 0.4 mg/ml.

The amino acid sequences of receptor-selective TRAIL mutein fusionpolypeptides are shown in the following.

Sp-TRAILR1mut-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40335 ORIGINSEQ ID 47  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTA FRFSEEIKEV TRNDKQMVQY IYKWTDYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW361 SHPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAILR1mut-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)Sp-TRAILR2mut-ASPD Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40401 ORIGINSEQ ID 48  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTQ FKFREEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNERLLQMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIFTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW361 SHPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAILR2mut-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

2.5 Characterization of SPD Carbohydrate-Variants

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335A was subjected to Size ExclusionChromatography by loading 0.5 ml PBS solution (0.4 mg protein) to aSuperdex 200 column as shown in FIG. 24. Proteins were resolved at 0.5ml/minute with PBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected(A1 to A13 are indicated). The retention volume of 12.27 ml correspondsto 135-145 kDa as determined from size exclusion standard. Thisindicated that TRAIL-ASPD_F335A is a homotrimer as calculated from theexpected monomeric weight of 40 kDa. Two additional peaks at 8.32 and10.68 ml indicated the formation of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A aggregates. Onlythe trimeric peak was used for later analyses.

From Size exclusion chromatography an aliquot from collected fractionsA1 to A13 was resolved by reducing SDS-PAGE and the gel was silverstained (FIG. 25). The band detected at approximately 40 kDacorresponded to the calculated molecular weight of 40 kDa forTRAIL-ASPD_F335A. Positive fractions corresponding the trimeric molecule(A8, A9, A10) of the SEC run were pooled and used for further analyses.

The amino acid sequences of TRAIL-SPD carbohydrate variant fusionproteins is shown in the following.

SEQ ID 49: Sp-TRAIL-ASPD_F335A Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40328ORIGIN  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIATN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW361 SHPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D (Phe mutation in bold-face)349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)SEQ ID 50: Sp-TRAIL-ASPD_F335D Total amino acid number: 367, MW = 40372ORIGIN  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG QRVAAHITGT RGRSNTLSSP NSKNEKALGR KINSWESSRS 61 GHSFLSNLHL RNGELVIHEK GFYYIYSQTY FRFQEEIKEN TKNDKQMVQY IYKYTSYPDP121 ILLMKSARNS CWSKDAEYGL YSIYQGGIFE LKENDRIFVS VTNEHLIDMD HEASFFGAFL181 VGSSGSSGSS GSGLPDVASL RQQVEALQGQ VQHLQAAFSQ YKKVELFPNG QSVGEKIFKT241 AGFVKPFTEA QLLCTQAGGQ LASPRSAAEN AALQQLVVAK NEAAFLSMTD SKTEGKFTYP301 TGESLVYSNW APGEPNDDGG SEDCVEIDTN GKWNDRACGE KRLVVCEFGG SPSSSSSSAW361 SHPQFEK 1-20: Secretion signal peptide (Sp; underlined)21-181: TRAIL-receptor binding domain182-192: Flexible linker element (A-linker; italic)193-230: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D231-348: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D (Asp mutation in bold-face)349-359: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 360-367: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

The cytotoxic effect of TRAIL-ASPD_F335A on human cancer cells is shownin FIG. 26. Indicated human cancer cell lines were incubated over nightwith varying concentrations of affinity and SEC purified, trimericTRAIL-ASPD_F335A in the presence or absence of cross-linking antibody(2.5 microgram/ml of anti Strep-tag II). Cell viability was quantifiedby crystal violet staining (HT1080, HeLa and WM35) or MTS (Colo205). Therise of Colo205 cell viability at high ligand concentrations is likelydue to limitation of cross-linking antibody.

Affinity purified TRAIL-ASPD_F335D was subjected to Size ExclusionChromatography by loading 0.5 ml (0.2 mg protein) to a Superdex 200column as shown in FIG. 27. Proteins were resolved at 0.5 ml/minute withPBS as running buffer and 0.5 ml fractions were collected (A1 to A13 areindicated). The retention volume of 12.29 ml corresponds to 135-145 kDaas determined from size exclusion standard. This indicated thatTRAIL-ASPD_F335D is a homotrimer as calculated from the expectedmonomeric weight of 40 kDa. The peak at 8.35 corresponded to inactiveTRAIL-ASPD_F335D aggregates typically found for all fusion proteinscontaining parts of the wild type TRAIL amino acid sequence.

From Size exclusion chromatography aliquots of affinity purifiedTRAIL-ASPD_F335D from the collected fractions A1 to A13 were resolved byreducing SDS-PAGE and the gel was silver stained (FIG. 28). The bandsdetected at approximately 40 kDa (indicated by an arrow) corresponded tothe calculated molecular weight of 40 kDa for TRAIL-ASPD_F335D.Fractions containing trimeric protein (fractions A8 to A10) were pooledand used for further analyses.

The human cancer cell lines HT1080 (A), HeLa (B), WM35 (C) or Colo205(D) were incubated over night with varying concentrations of affinitypurified, trimeric TRAIL-ASPD_F335D in the presence or absence ofcross-linking antibodies (anti-Strep-tag II). Cell viability wasquantified by crystal violet staining (HT1080, HeLa and WM35) or MTS(Colo205). The data show that TRAIL-ASPD_F335D is capable of inducingcell death in exemplified cancer cell lines (FIG. 29). The rise ofColo205 cell viability at high concentrations of ligand is likely due tolimitation of cross-linking antibody.

2.6 Analysis of Carbohydrate Binding Characteristics of the SPDTrimerization Motif Variants

It has been shown that wild-type, full length and oligomeric SP-Dprotein from several species, as well as the trimeric neck+CRD of humanSP-D bind to several different carbohydrates. In addition, the neck+CRDof human SP-D also has been shown to exert immunomodulatory effects byserving as a chemotactic factor for immuno cells such as neutrophils(Cai et al., 1999, Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 276:131-136).Other cells may also be recruited by SP-D. The chemotactic effect ofneck+CRD of human SP-D has been shown to depend on the glycobindingfunction, as the addition of maltose inhibited the chemotactic function.Thus, a ligand of the TNFSF with a SP-D-mediated chemotactic functionmay be of superior activity as compared to ligands or constructs thereofwith natural amino acid sequences. For instance, in a scenario wherecellular effects are desirable such as in cancer treatment such adescribed ligand may be desirable.

In addition, a ligand where SP-D has no carbohydrate function may bedesirable in other settings. For human SP-D a mutant has been describedin which amino acid phenylalanine 335 (corresponding to amino acid 355of SEQ ID NO:21) has been mutated to alanine (SPD_F335A, Crouch et al.,JBC 281: 18008-18014). This mutant showed very weak carbohydratebinding. However, introducing a charged amino acid (e.g. an acidic aminoacid) may be even better as compared to F335A if no carbohydrate bindingis desired. Therefore the mutant SPD_F335D may be superior towards F335Amutant.

To analyze the binding of TRAIL-fusion proteins to carbohydrates, mannanfrom yeast was immobilized on microplates and the binding of TRAIL-SPD,TRAIL-SPD_F335A or TRAIL-SPD_F335D was detected by ELISA. The resultsare shown in FIG. 30. As expected, the ELISA signal increased withincreasing concentrations of TRAIL-ASPD. In contrast, thecarbohydrate-mutant form TRAIL-ASPD_F335A showed a very low ELISAsignal. In addition, the new constructed variant TRAIL-ASPD_F335Ddisplayed the lowest ELISA signal (see inset and arrow). This indicatedthat the mutant F335D has a lower mannan-binding affinity as compared tothe previously described SP-D mutant form F335A.

2.7 Pharmacokinetics of TRAIL-SPD Fusion Proteins

To determine the half-lifes of TRAIL-SPD fusion protein, ten microgramsof TRAIL-ASPD (A) or TRAIL-ASPD_F335D (B) were injected intravenouslyinto male CD1 mice and serum samples were collected after several timepoints (predose, 5 min., 30 min., 2h, 6h and 24h). TRAIL proteins insera of mice were quantified by an ELISA and the data was used tocalculate halflifes. The results are shown in FIG. 31. For the twoproteins analyzed, a halflife of 7 to 14 hours for TRAIL-ASPD (A) andTRAIL-ASPD_F335D (B) were calculated. No animal died or showed signs ofintolerance during the period observed. The data indicate an at least80-fold improvement of the serum halftime as compared to wild type TRAILthat was reported to have a half time in the range of three to fiveminutes in rodents (Kelley et. al 2001).

2.8 Cytotoxicity of TRAIL-ASPD Fusion Proteins

To analyze potential hepatotoxic effects of TRAIL-ASPD, TRAIL-ASPD_F335Aor TRAIL-ASPD_F335D, primary human hepatocytes (PHH) were incubated withvarying concentrations of indicated TRAIL-SPD-fusion proteins, with orwithout cross-linking antibodies (anti-Strep-tag II). As a control, astabilized variant of CD95L, CD95L-T4 (described in WO2008/025516) wasused. The results are shown in FIG. 32.

In addition, the effect of a simultaneous incubation of PHH with 5 mM ofchemotherapeutic drugs was analyzed for TRAIL-ASPD_F335D. After 5h (A, Band E) or 24h (C, D and F) of incubation, cells were lysed and caspaseactivity was assessed with a fluorogenic assay.

As a result, all analyzed TRAIL-SPD fusion proteins induced nohepatotoxic effects, even if ligands were secondarily cross-linked byantibodies. In contrast, CD95L-T4 is hepatotoxic as indicated by anincrease of active caspase (A to D). Five hours of co-incubation ofprimary human hepatocytes with trimeric TRAIL-ASPD_F335D together withchemotherapeutic drugs induced no caspase activity (E). However, after24h of co-incubation with doxorubicin, soluble TRAIL-ASPD_F335D induceda strong caspase activity signal (F).

This indicates that TRAIL fusion proteins of the present invention maynot show undesired hepatotoxicity in medical use. Thus, TRAIL fusionproteins are preferably administered in combination with drugs, whichare apoptosis sensitizers and/or apoptosis inducers, e.g. achemotherapeutic drug such as oxaliplatin, cisplatin, 5-fluorouracil,etoposide, gemcitabine, irinotecan and others, or Bcl2 bindingmolecules, e.g. small molecules or peptidic compounds, which bind topolypeptides of the Bcl2 family, particularly Bcl2 or Bclxl.

2.9 Characterization of APRIL Fusion Proteins

HEK293 cells were transiently transfected with expression vectorsencoding for APRIL-A69 (WO2008025516), APRIL-ASPD, APRIL-ACCSPD orAPRIL-ACol11. After three days supernatants were analyzed for secretedproteins by Western Blotting. The results are shown in FIG. 33. For thedetection of APRIL-fusion proteins an antibody specific for Strep-tag IIwas used. Arrows indicate specific bands that were detected around 40kDa (APRIL-ASPD and APRIL-ACol11, respectively), as well as at around 25kDa (APRIL-A69 and APRIL-ACCSPD, respectively). Thus APRIL expressioncassettes are functional and the secretion of protein indicated that theproteins are properly folded. As for other TNFSF proteins analyzed, thehighest secreted protein levels were found for APRIL fused to thetrimerization motif composed of coiled coil “neck”+CRD of human SP-D(APRIL-ASPD, lane No. 2). APRIL-ASPD was used to analyze the binding tothe receptor TACI.

To show that the constructed APRIL-ASPD fusion protein is functional,the binding to a known receptor of APRIL, namely TACI, was assessed(FIG. 34). Therefore, APRIL-ASPD in supernatant from transientlytransfected HEK293 cells was immobilized on Streptactin coatedmicroplates. Cell supernatant from untransfected HEK293 cells served asnegative control. Specifically bound proteins were detected with varyingconcentrations of TACI-Fc followed by incubation with an anti-human,Fc-specific antibody conjugated with peroxidase. As a result, the ELISAsignal increased with increasing concentrations of TACI-Fc, indicatingthat APRIL-ASPD is a functional molecule.

The amino acid sequence of an APRIL fusion protein is shown below.

SEQ ID 51: Sp-APRIL-ASPD Total amino acid number: 344, MW = 37120 ORIGIN  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG KQHSVLHLVP INATSKDDSD VTEVMWQPAL RRGRGLQAQG 61 YGVRIQDAGV YLLYSQVLFQ DVTFTMGQVV SREGQGRQET LFRCIRSMPS HPDRAYNSCY121 SAGVFHLHQG DILSVIIPRA RAKLNLSPHG TFLGFVKLGS SGSSGSSGSG LPDVASLRQQ181 VEALQGQVQH LQAAFSQYKK VELFPNGQSV GEKIFKTAGF VKPFTEAQLL CTQAGGQLAS241 PRSAAENAAL QQLVVAKNEA AFLSMTDSKT EGKFTYPTGE SLVYSNWAPG EPNDDGGSED301 CVEIFTNGKW NDRACGEKRL VVCEFGGSPS SSSSSAWSHP QFEK1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined) 21-158: APRIL-RBD159-169: Flexible linker element (A-linker; GSS GSS GSS GS italic)170-207: Coiled coil “neck” region of human SP-D208-325: C-type lectin domain of human SP-D326-336: Linker element (GGSPSSSSSSA) 337-344: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

Example 3 Generation of a Fusion Protein with a Single Chain Antibody asEffector Polypeptide

The amino acid sequences of examples for single chain (sc) Fv-SPD fusionproteins are shown below (SEQ ID 52, 53)

Sp-sc006-ASPD Total amino acid number: 450 SEQ ID 52  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG EVQLVESGGG LVKPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFN TNAMNWVRQA 61 PGKGLEWVAR IRSKSNNYAT YYADSVKDRF TLSRDDSKNT LYLQMNSLKT EDTAVYYCTR121 DRGWGAMDYW GQGTTVTVSS GGGGSGGGGS GGGTGDIQMT QSPSSLSASV GDRVTITCSA181 SQDINNYLNW YQQKPGKAPK LLIYYTSSLH SGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTI SSLQPEDFAT241 YYCQQFSNLP WTFGGGTKLE IKRTGSSGSS GSSGSGLPDV ASLRQQVEAL QGQVQHLQAA301 FSQYKKVELF PNGQSVGEKI FKTAGFVKPF TEAQLLCTQA GGQLASPRSA AENAALQQLV361 VAKNEAAFLS MTDSKTEGKF TYPTGESLVY SNWAPGEPND DGGSEDCVEI FTNGKWNDRA421 CGEKRLVVCE FGGSPSSSSS SAWSHPQFEK1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined)21-140: Variable domain heavy chain 141-155: Linker element156-264: Variable domain light chain 265-275: A-Linker276-431: SPD-motiv (neck + CRD) 432-441: Linker element442-450: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK) SEQ ID 53 Sp-sc006-ASPD F335DTotal amino acid number: 450  1 METDTLLLWV LLLWVPAGNG EVQLVESGGG LVKPGGSLRL SCAASGFTFN TNAMNWVRQA 61 PGKGLEWVAR IRSKSNNYAT YYADSVKDRF TLSRDDSKNT LYLQMNSLKT EDTAVYYCTR121 DRGWGAMDYW GQGTTVTVSS GGGGSGGGGS GGGTGDIQMT QSPSSLSASV GDRVTITCSA181 SQDINNYLNW YQQKPGKAPK LLIYYTSSLH SGVPSRFSGS GSGTDFTLTI SSLQPEDFAT241 YYCQQFSNLP WTFGGGTKLE IKRTGSSGSS GSSGSGLPDV ASLRQQVEAL QGQVQHLQAA301 FSQYKKVELF PNGQSVGEKI FKTAGFVKPF TEAQLLCTQA GGQLASPRSA AENAALQQLV361 VAKNEAAFLS MTDSKTEGKF TYPTGESLVY SNWAPGEPND DGGSEDCVEI DTNGKWNDRA421 CGEKRLVVCE FGGSPSSSSS SAWSHPQFEK1-20: Signal secretion peptide (underlined)21-140: Variable domain heavy chain 141-155: Linker element156-264: Variable domain light chain 265-275: A-Linker276-431: SPD-motiv (neck + CRD) 432-441: Linker element442-450: Strep-tag II (WSHPQFEK)

The protein was expressed and subjected to affinity chromatography asdescribed in section 1.3. An aliquot of the eluate was resolved bySDS-PAGE under reducing or non-reducing conditions. A single band at40-50 kDa can be detected indicated by an arrow (see FIG. 39)corresponding to sc006-ASPD-St with an expected molecular weight of 45.8kDa.

The protein was expressed, affinity purified and subjected to sizeexclusion chromatography as described in section 1.3. Fifty microgramsof affinity purified protein were loaded onto a Superdex200 column andthe chromatogram is shown (see FIG. 40). The main peak at 12.63 mlcorresponds to a molecular weight of 160±15 kDa resembling the expectedspecies of three scFv molecules organized into trimers via SPD. Themolecules could be tested for functionality in an ELISA setup byimmobilizing the antigen and detecting sc006-SPD-St.

The fusion protein generated in this experiment comprises a single chainantibody directed against IL4R-alpha.

1. A fusion protein comprising (i) a collectin family trimerizationdomain consisting of the amino acid residues 217-375, 218-375, 219-375,220-375, 221-375, 222-375, 223-375, 224-375, 225-375 of SEQ ID NO: 21,optionally further consisting of an amino acid substitution at residue355; (ii) a linker element; and (iii) an effector polypeptide selectedfrom the group consisting of a single chain antibody, an antigen bindingfragment of a single chain antibody, or an antigen binding fragment ofan antibody; wherein said linker element has 25 or less amino acids. 2.The fusion protein claim 1, wherein the effector polypeptide is locatedN-terminally of the collectin family neck region.
 3. The fusion proteinof claim 2, wherein the linker element consists of amino acids glycineand serine.
 4. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker has theamino acid sequence of SEQ ID NO: 33, which is(GSS)_(a)(SSG)_(b)(GSG)_(c), wherein a, b, c is each independently 0, 1,2, 3, 4, 5 or 6 such that the linker has 25 or less amino acid.
 5. Thefusion protein of claim 2, wherein the linker element has the amino acidsequence of SEQ ID NO: 56, which is GSSGSSGSSGSG.
 6. The fusion proteinof claim 2, wherein the linker element has the amino acid sequence ofSEQ ID NO: 34, which is GSSGSSGSSGS.
 7. The fusion protein of claim 2,further comprising an N-terminal signal peptide domain.
 8. The fusionprotein of claim 2, further comprising a recognition/purification domainselected from the group consisting of a strep-tag domain and a poly-Hisdomain.
 9. The fusion protein of claim 1, wherein the amino acid residue355 in SEQ ID NO: 21 is optionally substituted to a polar amino acidselected from the group consisting of aspartic acid, glutamic acid,asparagine and glutamine.
 10. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein theeffector polypeptide is a monovalent Fab fragment.
 11. The fusionprotein of claim 2, wherein the effector polypeptide is a single chainantibody.
 12. The fusion protein of claim 2, wherein the effectorpolypeptide is a single chain variable fragment (scFv).
 13. The fusionprotein of claim 12, wherein the scFv has a variable domain of a heavychain located N-terminal to the a variable domain of a light chain. 14.A trimeric complex consisting of three identical fusion proteins ofclaim 1.